Positive Correlation Between Fecal Estrogen and Glucocorticoid Metabolites in a Female Clouded Leopard.

Abstract

Clouded leopards are notoriously difficult to manage under human care due to their tendency toward high stress, intersex aggression, and limited reproductive success. This case study investigated the endocrinological interplay between adrenal and ovarian steroids and describes a positive correlation between concentrations of fecal estrogen and glucocorticoid metabolites in a female clouded leopard. The female was monitored through two sampling periods approximately 16 months apart, and each data set yielded similar results using a simple linear regression model. The finding of a significant positive correlation between the two steroids represents a novel finding in felids and a hitherto unidentified potential interplay between adrenal and ovarian steroid activity. It also adds to our collective understanding of the effects of estrus on female clouded leopards, impacting conservation efforts as we encourage reproduction in this vulnerable species.