Decrease stress; train your animals: The effect of handling methods on cortisol levels in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) under human care

Desportes, Geneviève; Buholzer, Lisette; Anderson-Hansen, Kirstin; Blanchet, Marie-Anne; Acquarone, Mario; Shephard, Gwyneth; Brando, Sabrina; Vossen, Arndt; Siebert, Ursula
Aquatic Mammals (2007)

Circulating cortisol levels are accepted as a sensitive indicator of acute stress in marine mammals, particularly in relation with capture and handling. The present study provides the first long-term monitoring…


Variation in sexual behaviors in a group of captive male Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis): Motivated by physiological changes?

Wu, Hai-Ping; Hao, Yu-Jiang; Yu, Xue-Ying; Xian, Yi-Jie; Zhao, Qing-Zhong; Chen, Dao-Quan; Kuang, Xin-An; Kou, Zhang-Bin; Feng, Kang-Kang; Gong, Wei-Ming; Wang, Ding
Theriogenology (2010)

Most male mammals in temperate regions demonstrate seasonal sexual behaviors that coincide with seasonal variations in gonadal activities and androgen hormones. The Yangtze finless porpoise is a temperate freshwater cetacean…


Fatal disseminated Toxoplasma gondii infection in a captive harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

Herder, V.; van de Velde, N.; Højer Kristensen, J.; van Elk, C.; Peters, M.; Kilwinski, J.; Schares, G.; Siebert, U.; Wohlsein, P.
Journal of Comparative Pathology (2015)

A 7-year-old female harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), born and held in captivity, suffered from reduced consciousness, imprecise and circling swimming movements and long phases of immobility over a period of…