Standard Identification Certificate for Legal Legislation of a Unique Gene Pool of Thai Domestic Elephants Originating from a Male Elephant Contribution to Breeding

Nattakan Ariyaraphong, Dung Ho My Nguyen, Worapong Singchat, Warong Suksavate, Thitipong Panthum, Warangkhana Langkaphin, Saran Chansitthiwet, Taweepoke Angkawanish, Arphorn Promking, Kantapon Kaewtip, Kitipong Jaisamut, Syed Farhan Ahmad, Suchin Trirongjitmoah, Narongrit Muangmai, Orasa Taesumrith, Suratchai Inwiset, Prateep Duengkae and Kornsorn Srikulnath ()
Additional contact information
Nattakan Ariyaraphong: Animal Genomics and Bioresources Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Dung Ho My Nguyen: Animal Genomics and Bioresources Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Worapong Singchat: Animal Genomics and Bioresources Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Warong Suksavate: Animal Genomics and Bioresources Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Thitipong Panthum: Animal Genomics and Bioresources Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Warangkhana Langkaphin: National Elephant Institute, Forest Industry Organization, Lampang 52190, Thailand
Saran Chansitthiwet: National Elephant Institute, Forest Industry Organization, Lampang 52190, Thailand
Taweepoke Angkawanish: National Elephant Institute, Forest Industry Organization, Lampang 52190, Thailand
Arphorn Promking: Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ubon Ratchathani University, 85 Sathonlamark, Warinchamrab, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand
Kantapon Kaewtip: Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ubon Ratchathani University, 85 Sathonlamark, Warinchamrab, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand
Kitipong Jaisamut: Animal Genomics and Bioresources Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Syed Farhan Ahmad: Animal Genomics and Bioresources Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Suchin Trirongjitmoah: Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ubon Ratchathani University, 85 Sathonlamark, Warinchamrab, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand
Narongrit Muangmai: Animal Genomics and Bioresources Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Orasa Taesumrith: National Elephant Institute, Forest Industry Organization, Lampang 52190, Thailand
Suratchai Inwiset: National Elephant Institute, Forest Industry Organization, Lampang 52190, Thailand
Prateep Duengkae: Animal Genomics and Bioresources Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Kornsorn Srikulnath: Animal Genomics and Bioresources Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 22, 1-22

Abstract: Illegal wildlife trade is a major threat to global biodiversity. Asian elephants ( Elephas maximus ) are highly valued by various cultures as religious symbols and tourist attractions, which has led to a high demand for captive elephants. Owing to the unviability of captive breeding programs, several captive elephant populations are maintained by illegally obtaining wild Asian elephants. Morbidity and mortality rates among captive populations are high, whereas reproduction is low. In this study, we examined the genetic diversity among elephants using microsatellite genotyping and mitochondrial D-loop sequences of three captive elephant populations. The study results showed very low nucleotide diversity D-loop sequences and high variations in microsatellite genotyping, with an extensive variation of the gene pool estimates from different populations. This suggests that the optimal male selection during breeding could aid in maintaining the genetic diversity among captive populations. Forward genetic simulation revealed a decreasing genetic diversity in the fixed state within 50 generations. However, largely different gene pools can be effectively used to infer original elephant sources; this would facilitate the development of an identification certificate integration with machine learning and image processing to prevent illegal legislation owing to registration fraud between wild and domestic elephants. Implementing the proposed approaches and recommendations would aid in the mitigation of the illegal capture and domestic trade of wild elephants in Thailand and contribute to the success of future conservation plans in the blueprint of sustainable development goals.

Keywords: elephant; sustainable development goals; genetic diversity; legal legislation; convolutional neural network (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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