The aim of this study was to evaluate the post-thawed characteristics of leopard cat semen. In this experiment, semen was collected from two leopard cats (A and B) at wild animal center in Seoul Grand Park in Korea. After collection, the sperms were washed with D-PBS and diluted by the freezing medium (Irvine science, USA) and stored in liquid nitrogen. The post-thawed concentration was for A and for B. The viability of post-thawed sperm from A and B individual was 24.0% and 19.0%, respectively. Pre-freezing motility of A and B individual semen was 68.54% and 56.65. Leopard cat A had more normal sperm than that of B (69.5% vs. 54.5%). Acrosome integrity analysis detected live (14.5% vs. 9.0%), damage (39.0% vs. 44.0%) and dead (46.0% vs. 47.0%) in leopard cat A and B, respectively. The present results concluded that leopard cat semen can be collected successfully by electro-ejaculation method and cryopreserved successfullyfor future use in different assisted reproductive technologies. The cryopreservation protocol needs to be modified for increasing post-thawed viability of leopard cat spermatozoa.

Eight female Himalayan tahrs (Hemitragus jemlahicus) were estrus-synchronized, and transcervically inseminated with frozen-thawed semen in September, 2009, about 2 to 3 months earlier than their natural breeding season. Intravaginal progesterone-releasing devices were inserted into vaginas of six Himalayan tahrs on September 7, and the other two on September 8 to suppress luteal function of ovaries. The devices had been placed deep inside the vagina prior to withdrawal on September 23. A day before CIDR removal, a combination of PMSG 400 IU and hCG 200 IU was intramuscularly injected. Forty hours later, frozen-thawed semen was transcervically inseminated. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed 39 days later by analyzing progesterone level of serum. Every treatment was done under anesthesia inducted by xylazine injection. In conclusion, vaginal discharge of cervical mucus, hormonal changes induced by implant-typed or muscularly injectable hormones and widening of cervix enough to insert an insemination gun into uterine body were achieved in non-breeding season. Moreover, the first inseminated Himalayan tahr, 36 hours after CIDR removal was assumed to be pregnant but the fetus may have been lost due to the use of anesthetic drug.

This is about the successful use of eCG and hCG for producing a Siberian tiger pup born from 10-year-old, primiparous, albino Siberian tiger. From February 2010 to July 2010, natural breeding had been tried three times with no conception. During this period of five months, estrus behaviors appeared to be typically normal and a lot of matings were observed. After consecutive failures, 1000 IU eCG (equine chorionic gonadotropin) were intramuscularly injected on the day showing estrus behavior, followed with an injection of 750 IU hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) 80 hours later. The tiger stopped recurrence of estrus, and a cub, weighed 780 gram, was born alive 104 days after hCG injection. This study is the first report showing the unique, successful use of exogenous hormones as one of artificial breeding programs in the long history of captive breeding of carnivorous zoo animals in Korea.

Seven male Himalayan tahrs were strongly assumed to have accidently fed on foreign bodies in 2007. At the time, zoo caretakers witnessed missing fence padding, such as carpet, plastic awning, and ropes. The incident occurred the morning after the items had been set up to protect indigenous, wild long-tailed gorals from self injury caused by head butting the steel fence. Adult male Himalayan tahrs were obviously suspected of mostly eating the paddings mainly composed of carpet, thin and long plastic awning, and ropes. Even though they had not shown digestive problems, surgery was determined necessary in order to remove any indigestible foreign bodies. Left flank rumenotomy was conducted on seven male Himalayan tahrs from April to May, 2011. After anesthesia with xylazine, rumenotomy was performed on a concrete floor, with legs and head secured by ropes. No access to water and hay prior to operation for two days was needed to make the surgical procedure done quickly. Two sheets of small hand towels protecting against inflow of ruminal contents were beneficial during surgery. Antibiotics were administered intramuscularly for seven days. No abscesses at the surgical site were found after surgery. Like domestic ruminants, wild ruminants also ingest metalic or non-metalic, indigestible foreign bodies by accident. Therefore, simplified rumenotomy must be developed to apply to those wild animals to lengthen their longevity and to advance the quality of life in captivity. This case report is the first showing how to perform rumenotomy of Himalayan tahr, a wild ruminant, in Korea.

A female reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), 20-month-old, 342 kg, died at Seoul Zoo on January 2, 2009 after a stressful episode of chronic diarrhea. Given the appearances postmortem, it was strongly suspected that the giraffe suffered from malnutrition for a long time. Typical appearances of serous fat atrophy were shown on most fat tissues of body organs such as heart, bone, liver, mesentery and kidney. In this study, the sudden death that had been known as "peracute mortality syndrome" was clearly identified to have resulted from a lack of understanding the Browser's diet and general failure in giraffe husbandry. Individualized care and high quality hay must be provided to compensate higher consumption of metabolic energy and to prevent animal loss in winter season.

Four estrus-induced Himalayan tahrs (Hemitragus jemlahicus) were inseminated with frozen-thawed semen by laparoscopic or transcervical insemination techniques with no regard to the site of ovulation in non-breeding season. In June and July, 2009, estrus was synchronized by Eazi-Breed (Controlled internal drug release; Pfizer Animal Health, New Zealand) insertion for 16 days and PG 600 (PMSG 400IU, hCG 200 IU; Intervet, Netherlands) injection (IM) a day before removing . Forty eight hours later, laparoscopic or transcervical insemination was done to each of two tahrs under anesthetic condition inducted by ketamine (1.5 mg/kg) and medetomidine (0.09 mg/kg). For examination of estradiol and progesterone, blood was collected right before insertion, PG 600 injection, removal and insemination. Estradiol levels of four tahrs (No. 1, 2, 3, 4) before insertion and insemination were 13.3, 8.8, 14.3, 12 pg/ml and 23.5, 25.5, 21.1, 11.5 pg/ml, respectively. Progesterone levels of four tahrs (No. 1, 2, 3, 4) before insertion and insemination were 1.8, 0.05, 0.63, 0.61 ng/ml and 1.03, 0.37, 1.48, 2.12 ng/ml. Except for No. 4 tahr, cervices showed cervical mucus and opened enough to penetrate with embryo transfer gun sheet usually used for cows. Therefore, No.4 was laparoscopically inseminated together with No. 1. In conclusion, none of four Himalayan tahrs was pregnant. However, we proved that estrus could be induced by CIDR and PG 600 injection in non-breeding season, and laparoscopic or transcervical insemination with frozen-thawed semen could be one of assisted reproductive techniques in Himalayan Tahr.

On January 6, 2010, two months earlier than normal breeding season, a red fox vixen was implanted with synthetic GnRH analogue, Deslorelin. Blood was sampled every 2~3 days from the day of implant to identifying spermatozoa on stains of epithelial cells. Estradiol and progesterone were examined. Even though the vixen was in non-breeding season, she was mated by a male fox. Pregnancy was confirmed by canine pregnancy detection kit that detect relaxin released from placenta. Four healthy pups were born on March 9, 2010. This is the first report showing synthetic GnRH can activate ovarian function and lead to fertile estrus of red fox in non-breeding season.

Two male reticulated giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata), 21-year-old, died of nutritional deficiency that primarily caused by serious tooth wear at Seoul Zoo in winter. A 970 kg-weighed giraffe showed tooth wear of premolars, molars and incisors at necropsy. A foreign body in the rumen, congestion and ulcer of abomasum and duodenum were also observed. Mild appearance of serous fat atrophy in pericardial sac suggests that lack of nutritional intake caused by tooth wear can become harmful enough to threat life. At the necropsy of a 1,290 kg-weighed giraffe, a large quantity of sandy soil were found in the rumen which would stuck the pathway of well-fermented ruminal contents at esophageal groove. Nutritional deficiency could be suspected to urge this giraffe to graze grass on the ground along with sandy soil. Secondarily, the soil damaged teeth and become a culprit making irregular tooth wear and mild serous fat atrophy. Nutritionally good care of geriatric animals is needed especially for browsing animals like giraffes and critically in winter season.

We report herein the successful results of estrus induction, sperm cryopreservation and kids born by transcervical insemination of frozen-thawed semen in a Saanen goat. Flugestone acetate (FGA: 60 mg) was inserted into vagina for 15 days. The goat was intramuscularly injected with 400 IU PMSG and 200 IU hCG (: Intervet, Korea) a day before withdrawal of the FGA sponge. Follicles and corpora lutea were identified on both ovaries by laparoscopy. Artificial insemination was performed 46 hours after removal of FGA sponge. The concentration of frozen-thawed semen was and 0.5 ml of frozen-thawed semen was transcervically inseminated into uterine body under anesthesia. Three kids, all females, were born 144 days after artificial insemination. This is the first report producing kids by transcervical insemination of frozen-thawed semen in a Saanen goat of which the estrus was induced by FGA sponges, PMSG and hCG during non-breeding season in Korea.

A necropsy of a primiparous, 4-year-old, Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) was performed in September 8, 2009. Typical appearances of ovaries, oviducts, uterine horns, cervix and caruncles were well shown. Five cervical folds were present in the cervix. Cervical opening can be reached in the length of less than 15 cm from the entrance of vagina. Development of two follicles was found in the left ovary even though breeding season of this species naturally starts in late November. The reproductive organs of a primiparous, 3-year-old, Corriedale sheep showed that differences in the length and morphological appearance of cervix exist between two species. Comparative understanding of reproductive systems in Himalayan tahr and Corriedale sheep could help advancing assisted reproductive technologies in feral goats.

Two postmortem male and female reticulated giraffes were examined. The adult male giraffe showed sigmoid flexure of penis similar to most ungulates. Epididymis was well-developed and divided with head, body and tail parts. On the tip of penis, there was a urethral process. At the necropsy of a 20-month-old and nulliparous giraffe, ovaries, oviducts, two uterine horns with a septum and a cervix were distinctively shown. Understanding reproductive organs of giraffes would be beneficial to succeed in artificial breeding on this species especially in the difficult situation of importing hoofed animals.

To establish a protocol of estrus induction and synchronization in European mouflon, we performed artificial insemination using frozen-thawed semen and exogenous hormones. CIDR was inserted into vaginas of four mouflons for 16 days. A day before removal of CIDR, PG 600 was injected intramuscularly. was injected when removing CIDR. Artificial insemination was cervically conducted with injecting LHRH 48 hours after CIDR withdrawal. Even though no pregnancy was confirmed, estrous signs were notified like open cervix, congestion of vaginal wall and discharge of cervical mucus. Further research in the wild sheep would be needed for development of artificial breeding methods and advancing sustainability of domestic zoos.

Maras (Dolichotis patagonum) are monogamous and mate for life. A pregnant mara, 6.15 kg, died after forelimb amputation surgery at Seoul Zoo on February 28, 2009. In the bicornial uteri, two fetuses were found in each uterine horn. The placenta was chorioallantoic, hemochorial, discoidal and labyrinthic. The entrance of cervix had a deep fornix and no cervical folds were observed in the cervix. This report is the first about Patagonian mara and helpful for clinicians who deal currently or in the future with exotic pet animals.

Most captive canids and felids at Zoos in advanced countries have been examined enough to apply artificial reproductive techniques to them. We investigated reproductive hormones and vaginal epithelial cells of a 6-year-old, female coyote, hoping these data could eventually be extended to artificial insemination with frozen-thawed conspecific semen at Seoul Zoo. As a relative of pet dogs, coyote exhibited a similar appearance with only minor differences. In vaginal smear, an increase in the number of superficial cells suggests that the bitch has reached a state close to estrus. A sudden decrease of estradiol and increase of progesterone is considered as a preovulatory event. Vaginal epithelial cells and hormones might be useful for determining the optimal time of artificial insemination in coyotes' breeding.