A comparison of stress levels in farmed and wild American alligators: an indicator of animal health and best farming practices

ABSTRACT Blood was collected from alligators at a large alligator farm in Louisiana to compare stress levels to those in wild alligators. The measurement of corticosterone (CORT) levels and heterophil/lymphocyte ratios were used to assess stress levels because both parameters become elevated during periods of physiological stress. We compared CORT concentrations and H/L ratios in wild animals that were either the same size or the same age class as farmed alligators. Plasma CORT levels and H/L ratios were no higher than those in wild alligators. To ensure consistent results across the farm, we compared plasma hormone concentrations in animals of the same size classes maintained in different enclosures and also in different buildings and found no differences. We believe that results such as these obtained from independent laboratories can be used as evidence for regulatory agencies that crocodylian farms raise their animals in low stress environments under Best Management Practices guidelines.