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Data and R analysis code: Asian elephants distinguish sexual status and identity of unfamiliar elephants using urinary odours

LaDue, Chase A.1; Snyder, Rebecca J.1

Published Dec 04, 2023 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.w6m905qw1

Data files

Dec 04, 2023 version files 36.70 KB

Abstract

Despite the ubiquity of odours in mammals, few studies have documented the natural olfactory abilities of many “non-model” species such as the Asian elephant. As Asian elephants are endangered, we may apply odours to more effectively manage threatened populations. We implemented a habituation–discrimination paradigm for the first time in Asian elephants to test the ability of elephants to discriminate between unfamiliar male elephant urine, hypothesizing that elephants would successfully distinguish non-musth from musth urine and also distinguish identity between two closely related individuals. We conducted two bioassay series, exposing three female and three male zoo-housed elephants to the same urine sample (non-musth urine in the first series, and urine from an unfamiliar individual in the second) over five days. On the sixth day, we simultaneously presented each elephant with a novel sample (either musth urine or urine from a second unfamiliar individual) alongside the habituated urine sample, comparing rates of chemosensory response to each sample to indicate discrimination. All elephants successfully discriminated non-musth from musth urine, and also urine from two unfamiliar half-brothers. Our results further demonstrate the remarkable olfactory abilities of elephants with promising implications for conservation and management.