It is imperative that zoo-based Environmental Enrichment (EE) is underpinned by an evidence-based approach, yet research suggests considerable taxonomic-bias and in industry, a tendency for keepers to rely on food-based EE despite research on multiple EE categories. To better understand potential barriers to the dissemination of EE information for underrepresented taxa and EE types, a workshop was run at the 19th BIAZA Research Conference in summer 2017. Six taxa (domestic species, non-parrot birds, small mammalian carnivores, reptiles/amphibians, fish/invertebrates) plus non-food based EE were discussed by six focus groups who answered a standardised set of questions as part of a semi-structured interview. Deductive thematic analysis and principal component analysis were applied to code themes in the delegates’ discourse and derive components. Results suggest that delegates were focused upon two underlying themes: animal quality of life measures, and use or lack of information. Both themes were evidenced in the discourse of all focus groups for each of five EE subject areas (EE concept and terminology; need for EE; barriers to EE; use of literature; evaluation of EE). Zoo professionals have a holistic view on animal welfare that relies on behavioural ecology to inform practice, a multifactorial view on EE concepts, seeing EE as core husbandry, yet a luxury in practice due to barriers, with reliance on literature for ideas and to overcome barriers, to determine an animal’s need for EE, and to measure EE success. Delegates discussed a lack of literature, supporting conclusions of previous research. Further EE-based research on underrepresented animal groups is required if zoo-based practice is to progress.
{"title":"Concepts, applications, uses and evaluation of environmental enrichment: Perceptions of zoo professionals","authors":"L. Riley, P. Rose","doi":"10.19227/JZAR.V8I1.384","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.19227/JZAR.V8I1.384","url":null,"abstract":"It is imperative that zoo-based Environmental Enrichment (EE) is underpinned by an evidence-based approach, yet research suggests considerable taxonomic-bias and in industry, a tendency for keepers to rely on food-based EE despite research on multiple EE categories. To better understand potential barriers to the dissemination of EE information for underrepresented taxa and EE types, a workshop was run at the 19th BIAZA Research Conference in summer 2017. Six taxa (domestic species, non-parrot birds, small mammalian carnivores, reptiles/amphibians, fish/invertebrates) plus non-food based EE were discussed by six focus groups who answered a standardised set of questions as part of a semi-structured interview. Deductive thematic analysis and principal component analysis were applied to code themes in the delegates’ discourse and derive components. Results suggest that delegates were focused upon two underlying themes: animal quality of life measures, and use or lack of information. Both themes were evidenced in the discourse of all focus groups for each of five EE subject areas (EE concept and terminology; need for EE; barriers to EE; use of literature; evaluation of EE). Zoo professionals have a holistic view on animal welfare that relies on behavioural ecology to inform practice, a multifactorial view on EE concepts, seeing EE as core husbandry, yet a luxury in practice due to barriers, with reliance on literature for ideas and to overcome barriers, to determine an animal’s need for EE, and to measure EE success. Delegates discussed a lack of literature, supporting conclusions of previous research. Further EE-based research on underrepresented animal groups is required if zoo-based practice is to progress.","PeriodicalId":56160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research","volume":"8 1","pages":"18-28"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2020-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42478345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Carter, S. Webber, Simon Rawson, Wally Smith, Joe Purdam, Emily M. McLeod
Encounters between animals and humans in zoos and aquariums are being increasingly enhanced, mediated and extended using digital technologies. This article presents the results of research into the design, use and experience of stereoscopic (3D) 180o film viewed via a Virtual Reality (VR) headset at the zoo. This technology has recently emerged as an affordable consumer device with increasing uptake in education and museums. Drawing on research methodologies from the field of human-computer interaction, this project followed a ‘research-through-design’ approach, which sought to discover more about the potential of VR technologies in the zoo generally, through the process of designing a particular installation. This paper reports on the results of a qualitative interview-based study into zoo visitor experiences of using a specific VR installation, a 5-min video encounter that combined footage shot inside the little penguin Eudyptula minor enclosure during feeding, and behind-the-scenes preparation of food, with narration by the zookeeper in each scene. It was found that visitors had positive attitudes towards the use of VR video in the zoo as an addition to the experience of seeing live animals. The paper further discusses the specific opportunities for VR video via the key themes that emerged in the qualitative evaluation: cognitive immersion, emotional immersion, physical presence and social presence. This paper therefore supports further investigation of VR video as a form of visitor experience to be deployed alongside keeper talks, animal presentations and behind-the-scenes experiences, with clear opportunities for positive visitor experience, conservation caring, and ensuring the welfare of animals in captivity in zoos.
{"title":"Virtual reality in the zoo: A qualitative evaluation of a stereoscopic virtual reality video encounter with little penguins Eudyptula minor","authors":"M. Carter, S. Webber, Simon Rawson, Wally Smith, Joe Purdam, Emily M. McLeod","doi":"10.19227/JZAR.V8I4.500","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.19227/JZAR.V8I4.500","url":null,"abstract":"Encounters between animals and humans in zoos and aquariums are being increasingly enhanced, mediated and extended using digital technologies. This article presents the results of research into the design, use and experience of stereoscopic (3D) 180o film viewed via a Virtual Reality (VR) headset at the zoo. This technology has recently emerged as an affordable consumer device with increasing uptake in education and museums. Drawing on research methodologies from the field of human-computer interaction, this project followed a ‘research-through-design’ approach, which sought to discover more about the potential of VR technologies in the zoo generally, through the process of designing a particular installation. This paper reports on the results of a qualitative interview-based study into zoo visitor experiences of using a specific VR installation, a 5-min video encounter that combined footage shot inside the little penguin Eudyptula minor enclosure during feeding, and behind-the-scenes preparation of food, with narration by the zookeeper in each scene. It was found that visitors had positive attitudes towards the use of VR video in the zoo as an addition to the experience of seeing live animals. The paper further discusses the specific opportunities for VR video via the key themes that emerged in the qualitative evaluation: cognitive immersion, emotional immersion, physical presence and social presence. This paper therefore supports further investigation of VR video as a form of visitor experience to be deployed alongside keeper talks, animal presentations and behind-the-scenes experiences, with clear opportunities for positive visitor experience, conservation caring, and ensuring the welfare of animals in captivity in zoos.","PeriodicalId":56160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research","volume":"8 1","pages":"239-245"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68107505","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
D. Bergfelt, Sydney Davis, A. Conan, Michelle Martinez, Maria Vences, Rocio Canales, R. Sánchez-Okrucky
{"title":"Plasma concentrations of corticosteroids associated with performance-based activities in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)","authors":"D. Bergfelt, Sydney Davis, A. Conan, Michelle Martinez, Maria Vences, Rocio Canales, R. Sánchez-Okrucky","doi":"10.19227/JZAR.V8I3.491","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.19227/JZAR.V8I3.491","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research","volume":"8 1","pages":"152-158"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68106241","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nina Hottges, Madeleine Hjelm, Therese Hård, M. Laska
Lions (Panthera leo) are popular zoo animals and obligate carnivores. In the past, zoos focused on the nutritional aspect of feeding, whereas today they aim to encourage naturalistic feeding. AZA’s Lion Care Manual recommends a frequent feeding schedule, while other sources highlight the benefits of unpredictable, infrequent feeding schedules. Further, the husbandry guidelines for lions by EAZA propose to feed lions separately. To assess how lions are affected by feeding frequency, we collected data on five behaviour categories (social, agonistic, exploratory, marking, maintenance) and four activity categories (inactive, active, feed, pace) of four captive lion prides held on either high frequency (HF) or low frequency feeding (LF). We found that some behaviour categories (agonistic, exploratory and marking) and one activity (feeding) were more frequent for lions on HF feeding. Lions on both feeding regimes engaged more often in agonistic behaviour and were more inactive on feeding days than fasting days. On fasting days, activity and pacing as well as exploratory, maintenance, marking and social behaviour were more frequent than on feeding days. During the consecutive fasting days the lions on LF feeding were increasingly active. The results show that LF feeding with whole carcasses allowed the prides to resolve social discrepancies during feeding, which reduced aggression between feedings. LF feeding resulted in satiety of the lions to the extent of altered behaviour during feeding day and the first fasting day, whereas lions on HF feeding showed unvarying behaviour during feeding and fasting days suggesting a lack of satiety.
{"title":"How does feeding regime affect behaviour and activity in captive African lions (Panthera leo)","authors":"Nina Hottges, Madeleine Hjelm, Therese Hård, M. Laska","doi":"10.19227/JZAR.V7I3.392","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.19227/JZAR.V7I3.392","url":null,"abstract":"Lions (Panthera leo) are popular zoo animals and obligate carnivores. In the past, zoos focused on the nutritional aspect of feeding, whereas today they aim to encourage naturalistic feeding. AZA’s Lion Care Manual recommends a frequent feeding schedule, while other sources highlight the benefits of unpredictable, infrequent feeding schedules. Further, the husbandry guidelines for lions by EAZA propose to feed lions separately. To assess how lions are affected by feeding frequency, we collected data on five behaviour categories (social, agonistic, exploratory, marking, maintenance) and four activity categories (inactive, active, feed, pace) of four captive lion prides held on either high frequency (HF) or low frequency feeding (LF). We found that some behaviour categories (agonistic, exploratory and marking) and one activity (feeding) were more frequent for lions on HF feeding. Lions on both feeding regimes engaged more often in agonistic behaviour and were more inactive on feeding days than fasting days. On fasting days, activity and pacing as well as exploratory, maintenance, marking and social behaviour were more frequent than on feeding days. During the consecutive fasting days the lions on LF feeding were increasingly active. The results show that LF feeding with whole carcasses allowed the prides to resolve social discrepancies during feeding, which reduced aggression between feedings. LF feeding resulted in satiety of the lions to the extent of altered behaviour during feeding day and the first fasting day, whereas lions on HF feeding showed unvarying behaviour during feeding and fasting days suggesting a lack of satiety.","PeriodicalId":56160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research","volume":"7 1","pages":"117-125"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2019-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42082768","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Goodenough, Katie McDonald, Kayleigh Moody, C. Wheeler
The potential influence of visitors on behaviour of captive animals is well known. However, little research on “visitor effects” has also evaluated time of day and weather, which can affect behaviour directly and often also co-vary with visitor numbers. Here, we examine visitor effects on captive ring-tailed lemurs Lemur catta in a walk-through enclosure, where potential for visitor effects is especially high, while specifically considering weather and time of day (between 10:00 hr when lemurs were released into their outdoor enclosure and 16:00 hr when then returned to overnight accommodation). Time, weather and visitor variables interacted in complex ways, but time and weather exerted the strongest effect on behaviour. Weather strongly affected resting, feeding/foraging, and locomotion. Sunbathing was highest in mornings; locomotion increased in afternoons. Visitor numbers were negatively associated with feeding/foraging and sunbathing; visitor activity was positively associated with locomotion and alertness. Crucially, however, “visitor effects” were small both overall and in relation to underlying effects of time/weather. Univariate models suggested visitors accounted for ~20% of behavioural variation; after time/weather had been included this dropped to ~6-8%. We conclude that underlying visitor : time and visitor : weather correlations can lead to overestimation of visitor effects and offer recommendations for future work.
{"title":"Are \"visitor effects\" overestimated? Behaviour in captive lemurs is mainly driven by co-variation with time and weather","authors":"A. Goodenough, Katie McDonald, Kayleigh Moody, C. Wheeler","doi":"10.19227/JZAR.V7I2.343","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.19227/JZAR.V7I2.343","url":null,"abstract":"The potential influence of visitors on behaviour of captive animals is well known. However, little research on “visitor effects” has also evaluated time of day and weather, which can affect behaviour directly and often also co-vary with visitor numbers. Here, we examine visitor effects on captive ring-tailed lemurs Lemur catta in a walk-through enclosure, where potential for visitor effects is especially high, while specifically considering weather and time of day (between 10:00 hr when lemurs were released into their outdoor enclosure and 16:00 hr when then returned to overnight accommodation). Time, weather and visitor variables interacted in complex ways, but time and weather exerted the strongest effect on behaviour. Weather strongly affected resting, feeding/foraging, and locomotion. Sunbathing was highest in mornings; locomotion increased in afternoons. Visitor numbers were negatively associated with feeding/foraging and sunbathing; visitor activity was positively associated with locomotion and alertness. Crucially, however, “visitor effects” were small both overall and in relation to underlying effects of time/weather. Univariate models suggested visitors accounted for ~20% of behavioural variation; after time/weather had been included this dropped to ~6-8%. We conclude that underlying visitor : time and visitor : weather correlations can lead to overestimation of visitor effects and offer recommendations for future work.","PeriodicalId":56160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research","volume":"7 1","pages":"59-66"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2019-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42014569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) are endangered carnivores with a population size that is currently estimated at 6.600 adults in the wild. The European Endangered Species Program (EEP) for African wild dogs aims to maintain a healthy zoo population that is sustainable on the long-term and thereby prevent extinction of the species. Safaripark Beekse Bergen is one of the zoos that participate in the African wild dog EEP and they faced some challenges in the captive management of their breeding pack by the death of the alpha-male. Nine male littermates were transferred to GaiaZOO in an attempt to restore the complex social structure and decrease the risk of inbreeding in the pack. This study evaluates this captive management decision by comparing the social relationships and behaviour in both zoos before and after pack separation. Changes in social relationships and behaviour imply that the remaining pack members in Safaripark Beekse Bergen formed a socially unstable pack after pack separation, while the nine male littermates formed a socially stable pack in GaiaZOO. Based on the results, recommendations are provided for further improving zoo animal management and the welfare of captive African wild dogs.
{"title":"The Effect of pack separation on social relationships and behaviour in captive African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus)","authors":"D. G. Zijlmans, M. Duchateau","doi":"10.19227/JZAR.V7I1.352","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.19227/JZAR.V7I1.352","url":null,"abstract":"African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) are endangered carnivores with a population size that is currently estimated at 6.600 adults in the wild. The European Endangered Species Program (EEP) for African wild dogs aims to maintain a healthy zoo population that is sustainable on the long-term and thereby prevent extinction of the species. Safaripark Beekse Bergen is one of the zoos that participate in the African wild dog EEP and they faced some challenges in the captive management of their breeding pack by the death of the alpha-male. Nine male littermates were transferred to GaiaZOO in an attempt to restore the complex social structure and decrease the risk of inbreeding in the pack. This study evaluates this captive management decision by comparing the social relationships and behaviour in both zoos before and after pack separation. Changes in social relationships and behaviour imply that the remaining pack members in Safaripark Beekse Bergen formed a socially unstable pack after pack separation, while the nine male littermates formed a socially stable pack in GaiaZOO. Based on the results, recommendations are provided for further improving zoo animal management and the welfare of captive African wild dogs.","PeriodicalId":56160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research","volume":"7 1","pages":"25-30"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2019-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49249189","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) is a critically endangered myrmecophagous mammal, found throughout Southeast Asia. A rescue centre receiving custom’s seizures must be able to rehabilitate these animals. Unfortunately, gestating females tend to either abort or give birth during this period of stress, leaving rescue centres with new born pups, perhaps needing hand-rearing. The Night Safari (Singapore) has been caring for M. javanica since 2005 through rescue operations; however they officially became part of the animal collection in 2008. On two separate occasions, motherless pups have been brought to the rescue centre by officials, and had to be hand reared, both fed a feline milk replacer. The aim of this study was to compare the growth rates of hand-reared versus mother-reared pangolin pups. We regularly weighed the two hand-reared pups and the three mother-reared pups and compared growth rates using a linear regression model, and performed an analysis of covariance to determine if there was a significant difference between both rearing types. The hand-reared cubs had a significantly lower growth rate than mother reared cubs. The hand-reared cub’s growth rate showed a structural break at around day 60, where growth slowed significantly. Feline milk was nonetheless successful, but did not have an ideal growth rate. Other myrmecophagous milks become energetically denser, and the protein to fat ratio decreases throughout lactation. This could be trailed in future hand-rearing to compare growth rates.
{"title":"Comparison of growth rates of hand-reared and mother-reared Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) pups at the Night Safari (Singapore).","authors":"F. Cabana, C. Tay, Irfan Arif","doi":"10.19227/JZAR.V7I1.395","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.19227/JZAR.V7I1.395","url":null,"abstract":"The Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) is a critically endangered myrmecophagous mammal, found throughout Southeast Asia. A rescue centre receiving custom’s seizures must be able to rehabilitate these animals. Unfortunately, gestating females tend to either abort or give birth during this period of stress, leaving rescue centres with new born pups, perhaps needing hand-rearing. The Night Safari (Singapore) has been caring for M. javanica since 2005 through rescue operations; however they officially became part of the animal collection in 2008. On two separate occasions, motherless pups have been brought to the rescue centre by officials, and had to be hand reared, both fed a feline milk replacer. The aim of this study was to compare the growth rates of hand-reared versus mother-reared pangolin pups. We regularly weighed the two hand-reared pups and the three mother-reared pups and compared growth rates using a linear regression model, and performed an analysis of covariance to determine if there was a significant difference between both rearing types. The hand-reared cubs had a significantly lower growth rate than mother reared cubs. The hand-reared cub’s growth rate showed a structural break at around day 60, where growth slowed significantly. Feline milk was nonetheless successful, but did not have an ideal growth rate. Other myrmecophagous milks become energetically denser, and the protein to fat ratio decreases throughout lactation. This could be trailed in future hand-rearing to compare growth rates.","PeriodicalId":56160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research","volume":"7 1","pages":"44-49"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2019-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47060373","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
C. Schiffmann, M. Clauss, S. Hoby, D. Codron, J. Hatt
In further improving zoo elephant welfare, diet and feeding regimes are key factors. Together with the encouragement of physical activity, they support the management of weight and the prevention of obesity, which is considered a common concern in zoo elephants. Besides weight monitoring, visual body condition scoring (BCS) has proven a practical tool for the assessment of (zoo) elephants' physical condition. From the individual management as well as the medical perspective, documentation of an elephant´s BCS changes over time might be much more informative than a population-wide crosssectional analysis. We present a compilation of cases where European zoo elephant BCS can be assessed against influencing factors, such as reproductive activity, physical disorders, advanced age, stressful situations and diet adaptations. The present study of the European zoo elephant population describes how various life circumstances and management adaptations are reflected in the BCS of individual elephants, and in population-wide BCS over time. An online archive to build up a reliable, individualbased data basis with minimal additional workload for elephant-keeping facilities is introduced.
{"title":"Body Condition Scores (BCS) in European zoo elephants (Loxodonta africana and Elephas maximus) lifetimes – a longitudinal analysis","authors":"C. Schiffmann, M. Clauss, S. Hoby, D. Codron, J. Hatt","doi":"10.19227/JZAR.V7I2.375","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.19227/JZAR.V7I2.375","url":null,"abstract":"In further improving zoo elephant welfare, diet and feeding regimes are key factors. Together with the encouragement of physical activity, they support the management of weight and the prevention of obesity, which is considered a common concern in zoo elephants. Besides weight monitoring, visual body condition scoring (BCS) has proven a practical tool for the assessment of (zoo) elephants' physical condition. From the individual management as well as the medical perspective, documentation of an elephant´s BCS changes over time might be much more informative than a population-wide crosssectional analysis. We present a compilation of cases where European zoo elephant BCS can be assessed against influencing factors, such as reproductive activity, physical disorders, advanced age, stressful situations and diet adaptations. The present study of the European zoo elephant population describes how various life circumstances and management adaptations are reflected in the BCS of individual elephants, and in population-wide BCS over time. An online archive to build up a reliable, individualbased data basis with minimal additional workload for elephant-keeping facilities is introduced.","PeriodicalId":56160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research","volume":"7 1","pages":"74-86"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68106386","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Article history: Received: 21 Jan 2019 Accepted: 14 Oct 2019 Published online: 31 Oct 2019 Abstract Published studies suggest that some dolphins find swim-with-dolphin (SWD) sessions enriching or are hardly affected by them, while others find this stressful. In this study we investigated whether there are behavioural changes in dolphins after controlled SWD sessions in comparison with periods immediately before the session or at times when no session is due; and whether these behavioural changes indicate enhanced or reduced welfare. The study was undertaken at Dolphin Academy in Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, between May and June 2017. Thirteen dolphins were subjects, four male and nine females with ages ranging from 4yrs to 32yrs. Observations of dolphins took place in any of the five semi-open water pools and consisted of 30-minute focal animal sessions. These were timed to occur during the 30 minutes immediately before the start of a scheduled SWD session (‘before’), during the 30 minutes immediately following the same session (‘after’), and during a 30-minute period when the animal was not about to be part of a session or had not just finished a session (‘control’). Sessions for observation were chosen opportunistically according to the timetable used by the facility. Two ethograms were used, one for state behaviours and one for event behaviours. A total of 184 30-minute observations periods were completed, divided between the three different conditions. A minimum of six before-after pairs was possible for all subjects except one dolphin. Multiple regression produced significant models for several behaviours, but the significant predictors were mostly the pool in which observations occurred or the presence of disturbance or trainers, but not condition. It appears in our study that the welfare of the dolphins was neither compromised nor improved by taking part in the SWD sessions. There is no evidence in our data that taking part in a SWD session in itself has any impact on the behaviour of the dolphins, but that in all conditions (before, after and control) they spend time responding to the presence of trainers or disturbance, both in their own pool and in neighbouring pools. Further research should address the question whether the effects of disturbances and the presence of trainers are compromising or improving the welfare of the dolphins, and whether the increased interaction with trainers due to the SWD sessions is itself enriching for the animals.
{"title":"Pre and post session behaviour of captive bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus involved in \"Swim-with-Dolphin\" events","authors":"Sabrina Brando, N. Kooistra, G. Hosey","doi":"10.19227/JZAR.V7I4.440","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.19227/JZAR.V7I4.440","url":null,"abstract":"Article history: Received: 21 Jan 2019 Accepted: 14 Oct 2019 Published online: 31 Oct 2019 Abstract Published studies suggest that some dolphins find swim-with-dolphin (SWD) sessions enriching or are hardly affected by them, while others find this stressful. In this study we investigated whether there are behavioural changes in dolphins after controlled SWD sessions in comparison with periods immediately before the session or at times when no session is due; and whether these behavioural changes indicate enhanced or reduced welfare. The study was undertaken at Dolphin Academy in Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, between May and June 2017. Thirteen dolphins were subjects, four male and nine females with ages ranging from 4yrs to 32yrs. Observations of dolphins took place in any of the five semi-open water pools and consisted of 30-minute focal animal sessions. These were timed to occur during the 30 minutes immediately before the start of a scheduled SWD session (‘before’), during the 30 minutes immediately following the same session (‘after’), and during a 30-minute period when the animal was not about to be part of a session or had not just finished a session (‘control’). Sessions for observation were chosen opportunistically according to the timetable used by the facility. Two ethograms were used, one for state behaviours and one for event behaviours. A total of 184 30-minute observations periods were completed, divided between the three different conditions. A minimum of six before-after pairs was possible for all subjects except one dolphin. Multiple regression produced significant models for several behaviours, but the significant predictors were mostly the pool in which observations occurred or the presence of disturbance or trainers, but not condition. It appears in our study that the welfare of the dolphins was neither compromised nor improved by taking part in the SWD sessions. There is no evidence in our data that taking part in a SWD session in itself has any impact on the behaviour of the dolphins, but that in all conditions (before, after and control) they spend time responding to the presence of trainers or disturbance, both in their own pool and in neighbouring pools. Further research should address the question whether the effects of disturbances and the presence of trainers are compromising or improving the welfare of the dolphins, and whether the increased interaction with trainers due to the SWD sessions is itself enriching for the animals.","PeriodicalId":56160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research","volume":"7 1","pages":"195-202"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68106477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stereotypic behaviour in zoo elephants is considered an indicator of impaired welfare. The underlying causes are diverse and many aspects are still unexplored. Nevertheless, many zoological institutions make huge efforts to improve the well-being of their elephants. The construction of a new exhibit provides a chance to gain further evidence on the impact of such measures on elephant behaviour. We report a significant decrease in both the amount and frequency of swaying in an elderly African elephant (Loxodonta africana) after transition to a new enclosure. While we assume that continuous social interactions, increased freedom of choice and appropriate resting locations were critical for the distinct improvement of this individual´s well-being, the only factor that significantly correlated with swaying in this individual was the amount of time per day the elephant group was separated. Thus, corresponding adaptations in elephant husbandry are also encouraged in facilities without resources for the building of extensive new exhibits and may lead to increased zoo elephant welfare.
{"title":"Impact of a new exhibit on stereotypic behaviour in an elderly captive African elephant (Loxodonta africana)","authors":"C. Schiffmann, M. Clauss, S. Hoby","doi":"10.5167/UZH-166029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5167/UZH-166029","url":null,"abstract":"Stereotypic behaviour in zoo elephants is considered an indicator of impaired welfare. The underlying causes are diverse and many aspects are still unexplored. Nevertheless, many zoological institutions make huge efforts to improve the well-being of their elephants. The construction of a new exhibit provides a chance to gain further evidence on the impact of such measures on elephant behaviour. We report a significant decrease in both the amount and frequency of swaying in an elderly African elephant (Loxodonta africana) after transition to a new enclosure. While we assume that continuous social interactions, increased freedom of choice and appropriate resting locations were critical for the distinct improvement of this individual´s well-being, the only factor that significantly correlated with swaying in this individual was the amount of time per day the elephant group was separated. Thus, corresponding adaptations in elephant husbandry are also encouraged in facilities without resources for the building of extensive new exhibits and may lead to increased zoo elephant welfare.","PeriodicalId":56160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research","volume":"7 1","pages":"37-43"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70643392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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