Light shed on elephant pregnancy
Elephant breeding programmes are set to be aided by research which solves the mystery of why elephants are pregnant for such a long time.
Elephants have the longest-known gestational period of any animal, lasting up to 680 days, and hitherto the reason has always been unclear. But now, advanced ultrasound methods have allowed veterinary scientists to monitor elephant pregnancies more closely.
Detailed in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the research reveals that the long gestational period gives the calf time to develop the advanced level of brain power it needs to recognise the complex social structure of the herd and to feed themselves with their dextrous trunks.
It is hoped the research may help with elephant breeding programmes in zoos, including elephant IVF, as well as developing effective elephant contraception.
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