which are indispensable for management and breeding of elephants such as comparisons of CL development in cycling and pregnant females, differences/similarities between African and Asian elephants, triggers for luteal rescue/ additional luteal tissue expression by analyzing blood samples for P4, LH, Inhibin, Prolactin, PGF2-alpha, and clues for maternal recognition of pregnancy. In addition results of this study may provide the ultrasound investigator a better idea of the female's cycle stage by the appearance of the ovarian functional structures and by measuring certain CLs, explain abortions in cases of insufficient CLs, thereby enabling the groundwork to diagnose and possibly prevent early embryonic/ fetal losses, and provide greater knowledge of the function and formation of luteal tissue and their hormonal triggers which will help to improve contraceptives for birth control in wild African elephants. IEF funding supports laboratory testing and travel of investigator.

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