Artificial pairing method for eastern leuconedys

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of artificial breeding of wild animals, and particularly discloses an artificial pairing method of leuconedys, which comprises the following steps: establishing a pairing pool by screening healthy individuals of right age, and observing based on behaviors such as mutual hair arrangement, close and common feeding to realize staged cage closing and pairing. A male and female simian rotation mechanism is adopted to start pairing of the male simian and the new female simian after female simian pregnancy, the female simian participates in rotation again after interval expiration, the inherent one-half-one-wife system of species is broken through, and the provenance utilization efficiency and the population breeding success rate can be remarkably improved only through basic health monitoring and artificial behavior judgment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of artificial breeding technology for wild animals, and more specifically, to an artificial pairing method for the Eastern White-browed Gibbon. Background Technology

[0002] The Eastern White-browed Gibbon, a globally endangered primate species, has a wild population of less than 200 individuals due to habitat loss and poaching. In its natural environment, this species strictly adheres to a monogamous social structure, resulting in extremely low progeny utilization—only one female is born to a single male throughout her life, far fewer than other great apes (such as chimpanzees, which can produce 5-8 offspring). In captivity conservation practices, traditional artificial pairing methods mechanically replicate the wild model, failing to overcome the limitation of "one male to one female," causing the population growth rate to remain below 3% per year for a long time, making it difficult to meet the urgent needs for the recovery of this endangered species. Current technologies are insufficient.

[0003] 1. Rigid breeding methods lead to serious waste of breeding stock.

[0004] Current captive pairing practices completely follow the wild monogamous system, failing to consider behavioral plasticity in artificial environments. For example, high-quality male apes, during their peak sperm activity period (8-15 years old), can only mate with a single female, while female apes have a long reproductive interval of 2-3 years and cannot participate in other pairings, resulting in a male genetic resource utilization rate of less than 40% (data from Beijing Zoo, 2019-2023). Furthermore, the lack of a rotation mechanism in traditional methods leads to healthy female apes having an average gap of over 60% of their reproductive lifespan without mating, significantly restricting the population expansion rate.

[0005] 2. The cage-keeping process is crude, resulting in a low pairing success rate.

[0006] Current methods of cage pairing rely on experience and lack a standardized behavioral observation system. Common problems include: lack of conflict prediction: forced pairing without phased testing leads to aggressive behavior (biting injury rate >25%); vague success criteria: using only "no fighting" as the passing standard, ignoring positive interaction indicators such as grooming and cuddling, resulting in "false pairings" (more than 30% of pairs appearing harmonious but not actually mating); and arbitrary observation periods: the observation period for cage pairing varies from 7 to 60 days, too short a period leads to misjudgment, while too long a period delays the breeding window.

[0007] 3. Lagging population management leads to a decline in genetic diversity.

[0008] Current technology has not established a dynamic genetic contribution assessment mechanism: due to the lack of gene lineage tracking, there is mating between fathers and offspring in captive populations, and inferior breeding stock is not eliminated: individuals who have repeatedly failed to mate or produced deformed offspring are still reused, which lowers the health of the population. The breeding interval is uniformly set at 2-3 years for all female apes, without classification and management according to physical differences, and the fertility of older individuals (>15 years old) declines rapidly.

[0009] Therefore, an artificial pairing method for the Eastern White-browed Gibbon is proposed to address the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0010] In order to overcome the above-mentioned defects of the prior art, embodiments of the present invention provide an artificial pairing method for the Eastern White-browed Gibbon to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0011] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: an artificial pairing method for Eastern White-browed Gibbons, comprising the following steps: First, establishing a screening system based on the same species, reproductive age threshold, and health status, wherein female individuals must be ≥7 years old and have no history of reproductive diseases, and male individuals must be ≥8 years old. Simultaneously, all candidate individuals must pass three basic physiological indicators: body temperature fluctuation range of 37.2-38.5℃, respiratory rate of 18-26 breaths / minute, and negative for external parasites. Subsequently, a gradual co-op behavior guidance is implemented. In the initial stage, a separation fence is used to allow male and female individuals to have physical contact but not to mate. Mating is recorded for three consecutive days. Once the female ape exhibits grooming behavior more than 8 times per day without threatening growls, the activity gate between enclosures is opened to allow free passage. After entering the deep cohabitation stage, daily monitoring is conducted to ensure that the time spent eating together exceeds the time spent eating alone by more than 50%, and that the female grooms the male ape on average more than 8 times per day. Finally, the observation of effective mating behavior is used as the mark of successful pairing. Once the female ape's pregnancy is confirmed by changes in physical signs, she is immediately transferred to a separate birthing room. The original male ape enters a new pairing process within 48 hours, while the female ape needs to complete a total interval of 730-1095 days for lactation and physical recovery before re-entering the candidate pool. Individual reproductive records are established throughout the process to record mating time points, data on the evolution of pregnancy physical signs, and the weaning time of the ape cubs.

[0012] Preferably, the progressive cage-grouping behavior guidance includes a conflict emergency mechanism: if fighting lasts for more than 10 minutes or more than 3 food-grabbing incidents occur in a single day during the free passage phase, the activity gate is immediately closed and the isolation observation period is extended for 7 days; if aggressive behavior still exists after a second attempt, the pairing is terminated and the individual is marked as a "social disorder candidate," and the screening process can only be restarted after at least 60 days of individual behavior correction training.

[0013] Preferably, species identification verification employs a dual-track comparison of hair mitochondrial DNA sequencing and morphological characteristics, where morphological analysis requires the acquisition of high-resolution anteroposterior and lateral images of the individual. Sequence alignment and analysis are performed using database comparisons: NCBIBLAST and BOLD (Barcode of Life Database). Judgment criteria: Similarity ≥98%–99% is generally considered to be of the same species (requiring both genetic distance and morphological verification). Individuals with any parameter deviating from the standard range are excluded from the candidate pool.

[0014] Preferably, the confirmation of pregnancy signs requires meeting the four-stage evolution criteria: 90 days after mating, the back widens to the naked eye, and the upper abdominal circumference increases by 12-18%; at 120 days, a characteristic downward shift in abdominal circumference occurs, accompanied by an increase in breast diameter of more than 20%; after 150 days, the climbing height decreases to less than 60% of the pre-pregnancy height, and the time spent with legs curled up during rest accounts for 70% of the total rest time.

[0015] Preferably, the health status screening includes a dynamic assessment mechanism, which performs three basic physiological indicator tests 7 days before pairing, on the day of successful mating, and upon confirmation of pregnancy. Any individual whose body temperature deviates from the standard range by more than 0.5°C or whose respiratory rate fluctuates abnormally by more than 30% of the baseline value in any single test will have their pairing process immediately suspended and will be transferred to a period of isolation and medical observation of no less than 15 days.

[0016] Preferably, the rotation pairing is implemented using an optimized configuration of "one male and multiple females". A single high-quality male ape can mate with a maximum of 3 female apes within a 12-month cycle, but there must be an interval of at least 45 days between two adjacent pairings to ensure the recovery of sperm activity. The female ape group implements a group rotation strategy, with each group containing 3 female apes of suitable age sharing 2 male ape resources, so as to achieve efficient utilization of the breeding stock by staggering the mating period.

[0017] Preferably, the independent delivery room should meet the requirements of spatial gradient, provide a dedicated perch ≤1.5 meters off the ground in the late stage of pregnancy and reduce the spacing between perches to 60% of the normal value, lay a 5cm thick rubber buffer layer on the floor of the delivery room, maintain the environmental noise below 55 decibels within 30 days after delivery, and control the daily ultraviolet radiation time to 110-130 minutes.

[0018] Preferably, quantitative weaning standards are established for infant apes: Within the first 100 days of birth, they are completely dependent on breast milk and nurse 8-12 times daily; from 101-210 days of age, the proportion of tender leaves and fresh fruit consumed independently is recorded; when the intake exceeds 40% of the total daily requirement for 7 consecutive days, semi-separation rearing is initiated; from 211-540 days of age, when they can eat independently throughout the day and the proportion of breast milk intake on any given day is less than 15%, complete separation is achieved. Throughout this process, the infant apes' weight gain rate must be monitored to maintain a healthy level.

[0019] The technical effects and advantages of this invention are as follows:

[0020] Compared with existing technologies, the technical effects and advantages of this invention are mainly reflected in the following aspects: By innovatively designing a male-female rotation pairing mechanism, the natural limitation of monogamy in the wild is overcome, allowing a single high-quality male ape to successfully pair with multiple females during the reproductive cycle. Simultaneously, female apes re-enter the pairing cycle after completing their reproductive intervals, thus significantly improving the utilization rate of the breeding stock. A standardized system for judging friendly behavior is established based on a phased behavioral observation-based enclosure method (from tentative contact and free passage to complete enclosure), using observable interactions such as mutual grooming, cuddling, and shared feeding as core success indicators, effectively reducing the risk of aggression and increasing mating success rates. The accompanying reproductive cycle management scheme forms a complete technical chain from mating to raising offspring through dynamic monitoring of pregnancy signs, the establishment of independent maternity wards, and a progressive care process for cubs. Ultimately, without using complex intelligent equipment, the captive population can achieve efficient rejuvenation solely through basic health screening, manual behavioral observation, and scientific rotation operations. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a system framework diagram of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of the progressive cage closure process of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a diagram of the rotation pairing mechanism of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating the reproductive cycle management of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0026] Example 1:

[0027] As attached Figure 1-4As shown, (1) an artificial pairing method for Eastern white-browed gibbons includes the following steps: First, a screening system based on the same species, reproductive age threshold and health status is established, in which female individuals must be ≥7 years old and have no history of reproductive diseases, and male individuals must be ≥8 years old. At the same time, all candidate individuals must pass the verification of three basic physiological indicators: body temperature fluctuation range of 37.2-38.5℃, respiratory rate of 18-26 times / minute, and negative for external parasites; then, a gradual co-enclosure behavior guidance is implemented. In the initial stage, the male and female individuals can make physical contact but cannot mate through isolation fences. After three consecutive days of recording more than 8 times / day of active grooming behavior without threatening roars, the activity door between the enclosures is opened to allow free passage. After entering the deep cohabitation stage, daily monitoring showed that the time spent eating together exceeded the time spent eating alone by more than 50%, and that they groomed each other more than 8 times a day. The observation of effective mating behavior was the final indicator of successful pairing. Once a female gibbon was confirmed to be pregnant by changes in physical signs, she was immediately transferred to an independent birthing room. The original male gibbon entered a new pairing process within 48 hours, while the female gibbon had to complete a total interval of 730-1095 days for lactation and physical recovery before re-entering the candidate pool. Individual reproductive records were established throughout the process to record mating time, pregnancy physical signs, and weaning time of the young. First, a candidate individual screening system was established. Female Eastern White-browed Gibbons were required to be ≥7 years old and have no history of premature birth or dystocia, while male individuals were required to be ≥8 years old. All individuals must undergo basic testing for 3 consecutive days: body temperature maintained between 37.2-38.5℃ (measured at 8:00 and 14:00 daily), respiratory rate 18-26 breaths / minute (infrared monitoring under resting conditions), and negative results for external parasites using transparent tape. Individuals that pass the screening will be placed in a mating candidate pool. Gradual guidance will be used during the initial 3 days: physical contact will be allowed through steel fencing (gap ≤ 4cm), but mating will be blocked. After recording more than 8 instances of active grooming behavior daily without any hissing or threatening behavior, the enclosure door (40cm wide × 60cm high) will be opened. Deep co-enclosure will last for 30 days, with daily recording of shared feeding time accounting for more than 50% of total daily feeding, cuddling behavior for more than 2 hours, and effective mating videos captured (male mounting time > 15 seconds is considered valid). Within 48 hours of confirming the female's pregnancy, she is transferred to a separate maternity ward, and the original male is simultaneously transferred to the new pairing process. After the female completes her lactation period (12-18 months), she undergoes a 90-180 day recovery period, and can participate in pairing again after a total interval of ≥730 days. A 1080P monitoring system with infrared night vision (such as Hikvision DS-2CD3T46) is used throughout the process to record mating times and weaning times of the infants.

[0028] (2) The progressive co-op behavior guidance includes a conflict emergency mechanism: if fighting lasts for more than 10 minutes or more than 3 food-grabbing incidents occur in a single day during the free-roaming phase, the activity gate is immediately closed and the isolation observation period is extended for 7 days; if aggressive behavior persists after a second attempt, the pairing is terminated and the individual is marked as a "social disorder candidate," requiring at least 60 days of individual behavioral correction training before the screening process can be restarted. The progressive co-op co-op includes a conflict emergency response mechanism: during the free-roaming phase, if food-grabbing is detected (more than 2 times in a single day) (manifested as one party grabbing food and the other stopping eating for more than 30 minutes) or continuous biting for more than 10 seconds (judged by hair loss or skin damage), the activity gate is immediately closed and the isolation observation period is extended for 7 days. A high-calcium nutritional supplement is given daily during the isolation period. If aggressive behavior still occurs after a second attempt to put the individual back in the same cage, the individual will be marked as a "candidate for social disorder" and put into 60 days of behavioral correction training: artificial feeding with companionship from 8:00 to 10:00 every day, and playing friendly calls of similar species (within 85dB) audio from 14:00 to 16:00. The frequency of aggressive responses will be gradually reduced to less than once a day before the screening can be restarted.

[0029] (3) The species identification verification adopts a dual-track comparison of hair mitochondrial DNA sequencing and morphological characteristics. Morphological analysis requires the acquisition of high-resolution images of individuals from both frontal and lateral views. Sequence alignment and analysis are performed using databases: NCBIBLAST and BOLD (Barcode of Life Database). Judgment criteria: Similarity ≥98%–99% is generally considered to be of the same species (this needs to be combined with genetic distance and morphological verification). Individuals with any parameter deviating from the standard range are excluded from the candidate pool. Specifically, the species identification verification uses a dual-track system: gene testing involves sequencing the mitochondrial DNA Cyt b gene from 4-6 hairs with follicles, comparing it to the standard sequence of the Eastern White-browed Gibbon in the NCBI database; the similarity must be ≥98%. Morphological analysis uses a Nikon D850 camera to capture high-resolution images of individuals from both frontal and lateral views.

[0030] (4) The pregnancy signs mentioned above need to meet the three-stage evolution criteria: 90 days after mating, the back widens and is visibly identifiable, and the upper abdominal circumference increases by 12-18%; 120 days after mating, a characteristic downward shift of the abdominal circumference occurs, accompanied by an increase of more than 20% in breast diameter; after 150 days, the climbing height decreases to less than 60% of the pre-pregnancy height and the time spent with legs curled up during rest accounts for 70% of the total rest time.

[0031] The pregnancy confirmation process involves three stages of vital sign monitoring: Stage 1, 90 days after mating, involves measuring the upper abdominal circumference (2cm below the xiphoid process) with a soft measuring tape, with an increase of 12-18% (an average increase of 0.1-0.2cm per day); Stage 2, 91-120 days, involves observing the downward shift of the abdominal circumference (umbilical protrusion height >3cm) and an increase in breast diameter of more than 20%; Stage 3, 121-150 days, involves recording the climbing height as reduced to less than 60% of the pre-pregnancy height through a perch jumping test, and recording the duration of time with legs curled up during rest as recorded by an infrared camera, which accounts for more than 70% of the rest time.

[0032] (5) The health status screening includes a dynamic assessment mechanism. Three basic physiological indicators are tested 7 days before pairing, on the day of successful mating, and upon confirmation of pregnancy. If an individual's body temperature deviates from the standard range by more than 0.5℃ or their respiratory rate fluctuates abnormally by more than 30% of the baseline value in any single test, the pairing process is immediately suspended, and the individual is transferred to a period of isolation and medical observation of no less than 15 days. The dynamic health screening sets three key points: 7 days before pairing, on the day of successful mating, and upon confirmation of pregnancy. Each test includes: body temperature measurement (mercury thermometer rectal measurement for 3 minutes, range 37.2-38.5℃), respiratory rate (chest rise and fall counting method for 1 minute), and external parasite examination (microscopic examination using adhesive tape method). If the body temperature is >39.0℃ or <36.7℃, or the respiratory rate is >33 breaths / minute or <13 breaths / minute at any point, pairing is immediately suspended. Abnormal individuals are transferred to the isolation area for 15 days of medical observation: 5 ml of compound vitamin B solution is taken orally daily for the first 5 days, and fecal eggs are monitored (saturated saline flotation method) for the next 10 days until the indicators return to normal for 3 consecutive days before they are allowed to return to the pool.

[0033] (6) When implementing the rotation pairing, an optimized configuration of "one male and multiple females" is adopted. A single high-quality male ape can mate with a maximum of 3 females within a 12-month cycle, but the interval between two adjacent pairings must be at least 45 days to ensure the recovery of sperm activity. The female ape group implements a group rotation strategy, with each group containing 3 eligible females sharing 2 male resources. By staggering the mating period, the efficient utilization of the breeding stock is achieved. Among them, the rotation configuration implements the "one male and three females" optimization: select a high-quality male ape with a docile temperament, and cycle it in a "45-day pairing + 45-day rest" cycle within 12 months, with a maximum of 3 females. The female ape group is grouped according to age (7-9 years old group, older than 10 years old group), with 3 females in each group sharing 2 male resources. By adjusting the estrus period feed formula (adding 0.1% soybean isoflavones to induce estrus), the mating period is staggered to ensure that the interval between adjacent females conceiving is >30 days. For example, male ape A mates with female apes in the first round (January), the second round (April), and the last round (July).

[0034] (7) Independent delivery rooms must meet spatial gradient requirements. During late pregnancy, dedicated perches ≤1.5 meters off the ground should be provided, with the spacing between perches reduced to 60% of the normal value. A 5cm thick rubber cushioning layer should be laid on the delivery room floor. Environmental noise should be maintained below 55 decibels for 30 days postpartum. Daily ultraviolet radiation time should be controlled between 110-130 minutes. The construction standard for independent delivery rooms is: space ≥8m². 3 During late pregnancy, install teak perches (8cm in diameter) 0.8-1.5m off the ground, reducing the perch spacing to 60% of the standard value (from 1m to 0.6m). Lay a 5cm thick rubber cushioning layer on the ground (Shore hardness 40±5). Within 30 days postpartum, monitor environmental noise using a decibel meter to ensure it is <55dB (equivalent to a library environment). Turn on the ultraviolet lamp (such as Philips TUV 30W) daily from 10:00 to 12:10 (accumulating 110-130 minutes of irradiation within 130 minutes) to ensure vitamin D synthesis reaches 400 IU / day.

[0035] (8) Establishing quantitative weaning standards for infant monkeys: Within 90 days of birth, infants should be completely dependent on breast milk and breastfed 8-12 times daily; from 91-150 days of age, record the proportion of tender leaves and fresh fruits consumed independently; when the intake exceeds 40% of the total daily requirement for 7 consecutive days, semi-separation feeding should be initiated; from 151-180 days of age, complete separation should be achieved when infants can eat independently throughout the day and the proportion of breast milk intake is less than 15% on any given day. During this process, the infant's weight gain rate should be monitored and maintained within a healthy range of 1.2-1.8% per day. The weaning process for infant monkeys is managed in three stages: the first stage is the 0-100 day period of exclusive breastfeeding: breastfed 8-12 times daily. (Each time > 5 minutes), weigh and record every 7 days (average daily weight gain 3.0-4.5g); the second stage is the semi-weaning period from 101 to 210 days: provide 50g of tender leaves and fresh fruits (mulberry leaves, bananas, etc.) daily. When the self-feeding intake is > 20g for 7 consecutive days (accounting for 40% of the daily requirement), separate the infant monkeys for 4 hours daily (9:00-13:00); the third stage is the complete weaning period from 211 to 540 days: when the proportion of breast milk intake drops to < 15%, and the infant monkeys' weight gain rate is maintained at 0.35-0.55% / day (e.g., a 1000g infant monkey gains 3.5-5.5g per day), the separation is completed, and they are transferred to the sub-adult group rearing area.

[0036] Example 2: Multi-source data joint modeling scenario

[0037] Step 1: Candidate Individual Screening (Takes 3-7 days)

[0038] 1. Age screening

[0039] Female apes: Must be 7 years of age or older (judged based on a combination of factors including body size, coat color, behavior, and tooth wear).

[0040] Male apes: must be 8 years of age or older (assessed by body shape, coat color, behavior, tooth wear, and by touching the testicles: long diameter ≥3cm, full and elastic texture).

[0041] Exclusion criteria: Female apes with a history of dystocia or habitual miscarriage, or male apes with poor physical condition.

[0042] 2. Health check

[0043] Body temperature: Measure rectal temperature for 2 minutes with a veterinary thermometer at 8:00 and 14:00 every day (normal value: 37.2-38.5℃). Those with a fluctuation of >0.8℃ for 3 consecutive days will be eliminated.

[0044] Breathing: Observe the rise and fall of the chest for 1 minute at rest (normal is 18-26 times / minute). If it is >33 times, mark it for re-examination.

[0045] Parasites: Use transparent tape to collect hair around the anus. If more than 2 parasite eggs are found per field of view (100x magnification) under a microscope, deworming is required (oral praziquantel 5mg / kg).

[0046] Visual inspection:

[0047] The flexion and extension angles of the limb joints are ≥150° (e.g., 180° for full knee extension);

[0048] The oral mucosa is pink (without white spots or ulcers).

[0049] 3. Species identification

[0050] Pluck 4-6 hairs with follicles from the back and send them to the laboratory for DNA sequencing (compare with the standard gene sequence of the Eastern White-browed Gibbon KM066021.1, with a similarity of ≥98%).

[0051] Output: Qualified individuals are entered into the pairing pool and assigned a unique ID (e.g., F7-03 represents 7-year-old female ape No. 3).

[0052] Step Two: Phased Closure (Core Operation, 30-45 Days)

[0053] Phase 1: Inquiry and Contact (3-5 days)

[0054] Procedure: Males and females are placed in adjacent enclosures (with a 4cm gap between the enclosures). Physical contact is allowed from 8:00 to 18:00 daily, but mating is prohibited.

[0055] Positive behavior achievement standards:

[0056] Actively approaching the fence an average of ≥5 times per day for 3 consecutive days;

[0057] Make eye contact for ≥3 seconds without avoiding eye contact (successfully make eye contact >3 times per day).

[0058] Abnormal handling: If the animal thumps against the fence or bares its teeth and growls, reduce the feed by 20% that day and extend the observation period by 2 days.

[0059] Phase 2: Freedom of movement (10-15 days)

[0060] Procedure: Open the movable door of the enclosure (40cm wide x 60cm high).

[0061] Key observations:

[0062] Friendly behaviors: grooming each other more than 8 times a day, and sharing meals for more than 50% of the total mealtime.

[0063] Conflict behaviors: food snatching (more than 2 times a day) or continuous biting for more than 10 seconds.

[0064] Emergency measures: In case of conflict, immediately close the access gate and feed only 80% of the usual amount of feed the following day.

[0065] Phase 3: Complete integration (until mating)

[0066] Action: Remove the barriers to allow for all-day coexistence.

[0067] Signs of success:

[0068] Effective mating was observed (male ape mounting time ≥15 seconds, with regular hip twitching);

[0069] The frequency of grooming increases by 50% within 7 days after mating.

[0070] Failure handling: If mating does not occur within 20 days, a new mate will be provided.

[0071] Step 3: Pregnancy Confirmation and Rotation Initiation

[0072] 1. Assessment of Pregnancy Signs

[0073] Key Time Indicators and Procedures: 60 Days: Appetite increases by 10-15% (Record daily food intake = average of 7 days prior to pregnancy); 90 Days: Upper abdominal circumference increases by 12-18% (Measure 2cm below the xiphoid process with a soft measuring tape; weekly increase ≥2cm).

[0074] Legs curled up for longer than during rest

[0075] 70% of the data collected during 120 days of infrared monitoring showed the patient in a resting posture.

[0076] 2. Rotation operation

[0077] Female monkeys: Within 24 hours of confirmed pregnancy, they are transferred to a separate birthing room and begin a 2-year breeding interval (calculated from the day of birth).

[0078] Male apes: Moved to a new female ape enclosure within 48 hours and repeat the co-enclosure process.

[0079] Rotation rules:

[0080] Male apes can mate with up to 3 females, but the interval between two matings must be at least 45 days.

[0081] Females are grouped by age (7-9 years old and over 10 years old), with 3 females sharing 2 males. Step Four: Reproductive Cycle Management (Full Process)

[0082] 1. Delivery room setup

[0083] Space ≥ 8m 3 During the later stages of pregnancy, the perch height is reduced to 0.5m (to facilitate movement);

[0084] Lay a 5cm rubber mat on the ground (Shore hardness 40±5), and the ambient noise level should be less than 55 decibels (high-volume loudspeakers are prohibited).

[0085] 2. Early warning of labor

[0086] 7 days before delivery: Breast diameter > 2.5cm, nipple color deepens to brownish-red;

[0087] On the day of delivery: refusing to eat for more than 8 hours, frequently licking the vulva.

[0088] 3. Young ape conservation

[0089] 0-100 days: Exclusively breastfed, 8-12 times a day, with an average daily weight gain of 3.0-4.5g;

[0090] 101-210 days: Provide tender leaves and bananas for training to eat, with a daily food intake of 6% of the infant's body weight.

[0091] 211-540 days: When the proportion of breast milk intake is less than 15%, the infants are transferred to the juvenile group.

[0092] Finally, the following points should be noted: First, in the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise specified and limited, the terms "installation", "connection", and "linkage" should be interpreted broadly, and can be mechanical or electrical connections, or internal connections between two components, or direct connections. "Up", "down", "left", "right", etc. are only used to indicate relative positional relationships. When the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may change.

[0093] Secondly: The accompanying drawings of the embodiments disclosed in this invention only involve the structures involved in the embodiments disclosed in this invention. Other structures can refer to the general design. In the absence of conflict, the same embodiment and different embodiments of this invention can be combined with each other.

[0094] In conclusion, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for artificial pairing of Eastern white-browed gibbons, characterized in that... Includes the following steps: First, a screening system based on the same species, reproductive age threshold, and health status was established. Female individuals were required to be ≥7 years old and have no history of reproductive diseases, while male individuals were required to be ≥8 years old. All candidate individuals had to pass three basic physiological indicators: body temperature fluctuation range of 37.2-38.5℃, respiratory rate of 18-26 breaths / minute, and negative for external parasites. Then, a gradual co-enclosure behavior guidance was implemented. In the initial stage, physical contact between male and female individuals was allowed through isolation fences, but mating was not permitted. After three consecutive days of recording more than 8 instances of active grooming behavior per day without threatening growling, the activity door between the enclosures was opened to allow free passage. After entering the deep co-enclosure stage, the time spent eating together exceeded the time spent eating alone by more than 50% and the average daily grooming of each other was >8 times. Finally, the observation of effective mating behavior was used as the mark of successful pairing. Once a female ape is confirmed to be pregnant by changes in physical signs, she is immediately transferred to a separate birthing room. The original male ape enters a new pairing process within 48 hours, while the female ape needs to complete a total interval of 730-1095 days for lactation and physical recovery before re-entering the candidate pool. Individual reproductive records are established throughout the process to record mating time, pregnancy physical signs evolution data, and weaning time of the ape cubs.

2. The artificial pairing method for the Eastern White-browed Gibbon according to claim 1, characterized in that... The progressive cage-joining behavior guidance includes a conflict emergency mechanism: if food snatching occurs (more than 2 times a day) or continuous biting lasts for more than 10 seconds during the free passage phase, the activity door is immediately closed and the isolation observation period is extended for 7 days; if aggressive behavior still exists after a second attempt, the pairing of the group is terminated and the individual is marked as a "social disorder candidate". The screening process can only be restarted after at least 60 days of individual behavior correction training.

3. The artificial pairing method for the Eastern White-browed Gibbon according to claim 1, characterized in that... The species identification verification employs a dual-track comparison of hair mitochondrial DNA sequencing and morphological characteristics. Morphological analysis requires the acquisition of high-resolution anteroposterior and lateral images of the individual. Sequence alignment and analysis are performed using database comparisons: NCBI BLAST and BOLD (Barcode of Life Database). Judgment criteria: Similarity ≥98%–99% is generally considered to be of the same species (requiring both genetic distance and morphological verification). Individuals with any parameter deviating from the standard range are excluded from the candidate pool.

4. The artificial pairing method for the Eastern White-browed Gibbon according to claim 1, characterized in that... The confirmation of pregnancy signs requires meeting the three-stage evolution criteria: 90 days after mating, the back widens to the naked eye, and the upper abdominal circumference increases by 12-18%; at 120 days, a characteristic downward shift in abdominal circumference occurs, accompanied by an increase in breast diameter of more than 20%; after 150 days, the climbing height decreases to less than 60% of the pre-pregnancy height, and the time spent with legs curled up during rest accounts for 70% of the total rest time.

5. The artificial pairing method for the Eastern White-browed Gibbon according to claim 1, characterized in that... The health screening includes a dynamic assessment mechanism, which involves testing three basic physiological indicators 7 days before pairing, on the day of successful mating, and upon confirmation of pregnancy. Any individual whose body temperature deviates from the standard range by more than 0.5°C or whose respiratory rate fluctuates abnormally by more than 30% in any single test will have their pairing process immediately suspended and will be placed under quarantine for no less than 15 days for medical observation.

6. The artificial pairing method for the Eastern White-browed Gibbon according to claim 1, characterized in that... When implementing the rotation pairing, an optimized configuration of "one male and multiple females" is adopted. A single high-quality male ape can mate with a maximum of 3 female apes within a 12-month cycle, but there must be an interval of at least 45 days between two adjacent pairings to ensure the recovery of sperm activity. The female ape group implements a group rotation strategy, with each group containing 3 female apes of suitable age sharing 2 male ape resources, so as to achieve efficient utilization of the breeding stock by staggering the mating period.

7. The artificial pairing method for the Eastern White-browed Gibbon according to claim 1, characterized in that... Independent delivery rooms must meet the requirements of spatial gradation. In the later stages of pregnancy, dedicated perches ≤1.5 meters off the ground should be provided and the spacing between perches should be reduced to 60% of the normal value. The floor of the delivery room should be covered with a 5cm thick rubber buffer layer. The environmental noise should be kept below 55 decibels within 30 days after delivery, and the daily ultraviolet radiation time should be controlled within the range of 110-130 minutes.

8. The artificial pairing method for the Eastern White-browed Gibbon according to claim 1, characterized in that... Quantitative weaning standards were established for infant monkeys: within 100 days of birth, they were completely dependent on breast milk and breastfed 8-12 times a day; from 101 to 210 days of age, the proportion of tender leaves consumed independently was recorded, and semi-separation feeding was initiated when the intake exceeded 40% of the total daily requirement for 7 consecutive days; from 211 to 540 days of age, when they were able to eat independently all day and the proportion of breast milk intake on any given day was less than 15%, complete separation was achieved. During this process, the infant monkeys' weight gain rate needed to be monitored and kept within a healthy range.

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