The Biology and Management of Capricornis and Related Mountain Antelopes

The Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) has been protected by law since 1955 in Japan, because it was becoming rarer and approaching extinction. Thereafter, the serow population has increased gradually. The Japanese serow is thought to be a primitive relict species on the islands of Japan, and the geographical range of the serow has retracted upwards into the moun­ tain forests to avoid contact with humans. Little was therefore known about these animals. However, increasing losses of forest habitat due to exploit­ ation of the mountain forests or expanding cultivation by local foresters have driven the Japanese serow back into the lowlands of Japan. Since then, complaints of damage to trees and other vegetation have accumulated against the serow. In some prefectures the shooting of Japanese serow was allowed in order to prevent damage to forests. The animals killed were taken for research by the Departments of the Environment and by universities. was set up at the summit of Mt. Gozaisho, The Japan Serow Center Komono-cho, Mie Prefecture, in 1962 and has made a great effort to breed the serow and its related species in captivity. In addition, the International Studbook of Capricorn is crispus in captivity was established in Japan, and the state of breeding of the Japanese serows is now reported annually. However, without detailed scientific research, it is impossible to conduct sensible protection, conservation or management of the serow in captivity or in the wild. Front Matter....Pages i-xi Front Matter....Pages 1-1 On the evolution of the Caprinae....Pages 3-40 The saiga ( Saiga tatarica ) in captivity, with special reference to the Zoological Society of San Diego....Pages 41-50 Evolutionary aspects of the biology of chamois, Rupicapra spp. (Bovidae, Caprinae)....Pages 51-61 Evolutionary pathways of karyotypes of the tribe Rupicaprini....Pages 62-71 Front Matter....Pages 73-73 Survey of 217 Japanese serows, Capricornis crispus , bred in captivity....Pages 75-92 Distribution of Japanese serow in its southern range, Kyushu....Pages 93-103 Family break-up in Japanese serow, Capricornis crispus ....Pages 104-109 Censusing Japanese serow by helicopter in deciduous mountain forests....Pages 110-118 Radio tracking of Japanese serow in Akita Prefecture, Japan....Pages 119-124 A preliminary study on the ecology of Formosan serow Capricornis crispus swinhoei ....Pages 125-133 Social behaviour of Japanese serow, Capricornis crispus crispus ....Pages 134-144 Front Matter....Pages 145-145 Breeding of Sumatran serow at Dusit Zoo....Pages 147-153 Breeding and behaviour of Formosan serow at Taipei Zoo....Pages 154-164 Behaviour of the Japanese serow ( Capricornis crispus ) at the San Diego Wild Animal Park....Pages 165-181 Front Matter....Pages 183-183 Keeping and breeding of chamois ( Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra Linné 1758) at the Alpine Zoo, Innsbruck/Tirol....Pages 185-190 Experiences of keeping and breeding saiga antelope at Tierpark, Berlin....Pages 191-204 Breeding of Mongolian gazelle at Osaka Zoo....Pages 205-212 Nemorhaedus cranbrooki Hayman....Pages 213-220 Breeding of goral, Formosan serow and chamois....Pages 221-223 Front Matter....Pages 225-225 Morphological characteristics of Japanese serow, with special reference to the interdigital glands....Pages 227-242 Front Matter....Pages 225-225 Histology and lipid analysis of the infraorbital gland of Japanese serow, and functional considerations....Pages 243-256 Brachial and lumbosacral plexuses and brains of the Japanese serow....Pages 257-268 What can serow horns tell us?....Pages 269-275 Front Matter....Pages 277-277 Clostridial infections in chamois ( Rupicapra rupicapra )in captivity....Pages 279-282 Pathological studies on Japanese serow ( Capricornis crispus )....Pages 283-298 Serological survey for selected microbial pathogens in Japanese serow ( Capricornis crispus ) in Gifu Prefecture, Japan....Pages 299-311 Haematological and biochemical findings on Japanese serow....Pages 312-317 Front Matter....Pages 319-319 Reproduction of female Japanese serow based on the morphology of ovaries and fetuses....Pages 321-331 Seasonal changes in male reproductive functions of Japanese serow....Pages 332-338 Steroid hormone synthesis and secretion by adrenals of wild Japanese serow, Capricornis crispus ....Pages 339-346 Front Matter....Pages 347-347 The quantity of food taken by raised Japanese serow....Pages 349-354 Nutritional estimation of Japanese serow by faecal analysis....Pages 355-364 Heavy metal accumulation in wild Japanese serow....Pages 365-387 Back Matter....Pages 388-391 Focuses on Capricornis and its related species. The topics covered include distribution and breeding, behaviour, ecology and reproduction, pathology and veterinary aspects, and conservation of endangered species.