Collection of semen by manual stimulation and ejaculate characteristics of the black flying-fox (Pteropus alecto)

Abstract

Semen collection and preservation is the first step toward the development of an artificial insemination program in endangered Pteropus spp. Semen was collected by manual stimulation from a single "human-habituated" P. alecto. Manual stimulation resulted in the successful collection of motile spermatozoa on 17 of 34 attempts. The semen had a pH of 8.2 (n = 2). With the exception of volume, seminal characteristics (concentration, motility, acrosome and plasma membrane status) were similar to those collected previously by electro-ejaculation. Zoo Biol 27:159-164, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.