Abstract:
The endangered African wild dog (AWD; Lycaon pictus) is a highly social canid living in packs
with a separate male and female hierarchy. Immobilisation, handling and translocations are
acute stressors for AWDs, however such interventions are often needed for species management.
In addition, new pack formation or temporary pack separation can lead to an increase in
intra-pack aggression. The goal of this double-blinded placebo-controlled study conducted in
captive zoo populations was to evaluate whether dog appeasing pheromone (DAP) reduces
behavioural stress and faecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels (fGCM) normally associated with
pack separation, immobilisation and reintroduction (SIR), and to assess whether this reduces
aggressive behaviours and faecal androgen metabolite levels (fAM). Four packs (n = 11
males) were treated with DAP and 4 packs (n = 12 males) were treated with a placebo solution,
applied at the end of anaesthesia. Behavioural interactions as well as fGCM and fAM were
determined from 3 days before until 4–6 days after SIR. No effect of DAP on fGCM was
observed, however, fAM increased after SIR in placebo but not DAP treated animals. Moreover,
on the day of reintroduction, DAP treated packs tended to have lower rates of contactdominance
and active-submission behaviour, but higher rates of non-contact dominance
behaviour. As these effects could decrease the risk of agonistic interactions, DAP may be a
useful tool to help manage new pack formations and temporary pack separation.
