A comparison of stress levels in farmed and wild American alligators: an indicator of animal health and best farming practices

ABSTRACT

Blood was collected from alligators at a large alligator farm in Louisiana to compare stress levels to those in wild alligators. The measurement of corticosterone (CORT) levels and heterophil/lymphocyte ratios were used to assess stress levels because both parameters become elevated during periods of physiological stress. We compared CORT concentrations and H/L ratios in wild animals that were either the same size or the same age class as farmed alligators. Plasma CORT levels and H/L ratios were no higher than those in wild alligators. To ensure consistent results across the farm, we compared plasma hormone concentrations in animals of the same size classes maintained in different enclosures and also in different buildings and found no differences. We believe that results such as these obtained from independent laboratories can be used as evidence for regulatory agencies that crocodylian farms raise their animals in low stress environments under Best Management Practices guidelines.

KEYWORDS:

• Alligator farm
• alligator industry
• corticosteroid
• corticosterone
• stress

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the owner of the alligator farm who allowed us to collect samples. In addition, we would like to acknowledge the help of the farm employees who assisted in capturing and collecting blood from the farmed alligators. This study was funded by a McNeese State University Endowed Professorship grant awarded to M. Merchant (EP0073). Both state (Texas Parks and Wildlife SPR-0402-207) and federal (USFWS SUP 21525-20-0002) permits to capture and collect blood from animals on McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge land were held by M. Merchant. The methods of alligator capture, handling, and blood collection were approved be the McNeese State University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the McNeese State University College of Science Professorship [EP0073].