The Biology, Husbandry and Conservation Scimitar-horned Oryx ...

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Part 2: Husbandry Guidelines
1968; Rice & Kalk, 1996). Dirt and fading may reduce the effectiveness of ear tags over time
(Ashton, 1978) and numbers on some tags are difficult to read at a distance (Ulmer, 1968).
Transponders
The use of transponders for marking individual animals is increasing in popularity amongst
EEP zoos. Transponders are quick and easy to apply, permanent and inconspicuous.
Transponders are small, rod-shaped and encased in a glass capsule. They range in size from
2mm x 10mm to 3.5mm x 30mm with the smaller transponders having a range of less than
8cm and the larger transponders having a range of 16cm. Each transponder is programmed
with a unique code during manufacture and this code can then be read when a reader wand is
waved over it (Rice & Kalk, 1996). Transponders are implanted under the skin or in the
muscle, and once the implant site is cleaned with alcohol, infection is unlikely. However, due
to the limited range of the transponder, implantation sites should be recorded and / or
standardised for each animal (Rice & Kalk, 1996).
However, the method may not be completely reliable and is usually used in conjunction with
another, more visible, method of marking such as ear tags or notches.
The disadvantages of using transponders for identification is that they are relatively expensive
compared to other methods of marking, the performance is not always reliable and they need
to be read in close proximity to the animal which usually entails physical restraint.
Transponder systems are manufactured by different companies and are not all compatible
with one another. When individual animals are transferred between institutions, the signal
may not be detectable by the reader wand at the new institution. This lack of compatibility
compromises the permanency of this marking technique (Rice & Kalk, 1996).
With advances in technology it is likely that some of the concerns regarding the use of
transponders such as the detectable distance will be overcome. For the time being the use of
transponders offers a suitable backup to visual markings such as ear tags.
Tattooing
Tattooing is a traditional method for marking ungulates and is still used to identify individual
oryx in some EEP zoos. Tattoos are inexpensive to apply (Rice & Kalk, 1996), should be
permanent if applied correctly (Ashton, 1978; Rice & Kalk, 1996) and are inconspicuous,
especially if the tattoo is applied to the inside lip or ear (Rice & Kalk, 1996).
Numbered or lettered tattoos are applied using an electronic needle or tattoo pliers (Rice &
Kalk, 1996; Ashton, 1978; Reuther, 1968; Ogilvie, 1968), and indelible green ink is
preferable to black or red, as it contrasts well with the surrounding flesh colour (Ashton,
1978; Reuther, 1968; Ogilvie, 1968). Tattoos should be applied to areas of skin with little hair
where the number will be easy to read. This is commonly the ear (Rice & Kalk, 1996), but
can include the axilla, medial thigh, ventral abdomen or chest, foot, inside the lip and inside
the ear (Ulmer, 1968; Ogilvie, 1968; Reuther, 1968; Ashton, 1978).
Tattoos can be applied shortly after birth as the animals are not difficult to capture and handle
at this time (Reuther, 1968). However, a delay of 24 – 48 hours may be advisable to give time
for the mother-infant bond to develop (Rice & Kalk, 1996).