What behavior is important behavior? A systematic review of how wild and zoo-housed animals differ in their time-activity budgets

Frontiers in Ethology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 4

Published: Jan. 29, 2025

Natural behavior performance in captive animals is traditionally utilized as a metric to establish welfare states, with an increase natural associated positive welfare. Captive environments, including zoos strive replicate ecologically relevant environments that promote species-specific, adaptive performance. However, spatial restrictions and complex habitats required by some species create various challenges for zoo staff implement management husbandry practices achieve this. Some struggle adapt cope increased abnormal which may reduce Other captivity novel ways, demonstrating flexibility their patterns without compromising research indicating behavioral sparse. The main aim of this review was categorize being fully behaviorally flexible, partially or inflexible. Effect sizes (Hedges’ g) were calculated compare categories the wild zoo, grouped taxonomic Order (Testudines, Primates, Artiodactyla, Psittaciformes Carnivora) ecological traits determine level flexibility. also analyzed behaviors suggestive good absent species. Despite variation across all groups, consistently highest animals, reproductive foraging most often compromised. Overall, complete suggested Testudines (potentially result from temperature maintain homeostasis), completely migratory who are exposed heterogenous landscapes when traveling long distances, specific primate, ring-tailed lemur ( Lemur catta ) potentially improve resource access due terrestrial nature. All other groups evaluated demonstrated partial inflexibility. Abnormal prevalence reduced these suggests inability captivity. This necessitates more focused investigations identify environmental features aspects managed can meet species’ needs zoo.

Language: Английский

---

Investigating the motivations of repetitive barrier interactions in Pogona vitticeps

Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 106484 - 106484

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

---

The welfare problems of wide-ranging Carnivora reflect naturally itinerant lifestyles

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10(9)

Published: Sept. 1, 2023

Carnivora with naturally small home ranges readily adjust to the evolutionarily new environment of captivity, but wider-ranging species seem prone stress. Understanding why would advance both collection planning and enclosure design. We therefore investigated which aspects wide-ranging lifestyles are key. identified eight correlates range size (reflecting energetic needs, movement, intra-specific interactions, itinerant lifestyles). systematically assessed whether these predict welfare better than per se, using data on captive juvenile mortality (from 13 518 individuals across 42 species) stereotypic route-tracing (456 individuals, 27 species). Naturally (quantified via ratios daily annual travel distances) were found confer risk, predicting greater losses time-budgets. This finding advances our understanding evolutionary basis for problems in Carnivora, helping explain sedentary (e.g. American mink) may breed even intensive farm conditions, while others polar bears, giant pandas) can struggle modern zoos conservation breeding centres. involve decision-making, strategic shifts between locations, suggesting that supplying more novelty, cognitive challenge and/or opportunities control will be effective ways meet animals' needs captivity.

Language: Английский

---

Sixty Years of Tinbergen’s Four Questions and Their Continued Relevance to Applied Behaviour and Welfare Research in Zoo Animals: A Commentary

Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(2), P. 338 - 357

Published: June 15, 2024

Understanding animal behaviour can feel like deciphering a foreign language. In 1963, pioneering ethologist Nikolaas Tinbergen offered key: four fundamental questions to dissect behaviour’s complexities and reduce interpretive bias. These “Four Questions” fall into two categories: Proximate (how?) Ultimate (why?). The ask how the is triggered (Causation) develops over time (Ontogeny). delve its evolutionary history (Phylogeny) purpose (Function). Traditionally used in behavioural ecology, Tinbergen’s framework finds new relevance fields sentience, welfare, conservation, management. This paper illustrates further integration of these Questions applied research improve outcomes. For example, captive animals receive enrichment seemingly “unnatural” origin form. Does such trigger species-typical behaviours, fulfilling same adaptive function as natural stimuli would? species’ patterns performance activities promotes positive welfare states key biologically relevant population Four help scientists decipher behaviour, responses their environment indicate what individuals need want at specific or place. By applying Questions, we answer this question and, turn, refine husbandry practices conserve diversity managed populations. Sixty years after conception, remain powerful tool for research. embracing different biological disciplines within unified framework, zoo science will continue advance provide credible evidence-based outputs.

Language: Английский

---

Feeding, mating and animal wellbeing: new insights from phylogenetic comparative methods

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 290(1994)

Published: March 1, 2023

Language: Английский

---

Breaking the spell: Changes in the behavior of two zoo‐kept tigers (Panthera tigris) after exposure to a distinct feast‐and‐fast feeding regime

Zoo Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 43(4), P. 340 - 353

Published: May 13, 2024

Abstract The behavior of zoo carnivores has received intense attention due to their propensity for locomotor stereotypies. We observed two adult male tiger ( Panthera tigris ) siblings kept together the duration 104 days by round‐the‐clock video observation. period consisted three baseline periods with zoo's regular feeding regime five per week interrupted individual fasting days, occurring in evening (B1–B3 14 each). These were intervention (I1: randomized times, 28 days; I2: gorge‐feeding 10‐day periods, 34 days). As expected, day and night‐time was different, majority sleep at night. Pacing, which mainly considered anticipatory, significantly decreased from 88 ± 132 min/day during B1 20 33 B3. Pacing did not increase I2. Over course whole study, lying time nonpacing locomotion increased. A major difference between subsequent first days: gorge‐feeding, tigers spent a large part locomoting (and less sleeping); on day, they locomoted about 4.5 h slept 4.3 more. suggest that interrupting routines several may be effective reducing anticipatory creates an across‐day structure correspond evolved psychological disposition carnivores.

Language: Английский

---

The Value and Ethical Status of Zoos

Veterinary medicine and science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 30, 2024

Ethical concerns surrounding the existence of zoos have recently come to fore. Some argue for complete phasing-out zoos, citing about limitations they impose on animal liberty and dignity, coupled with perceived minimal benefits both humans animals. However, these arguments tend downplay potential value that offer in terms human enjoyment, educational opportunities, research initiatives, conservation efforts. Moreover, overlook other significant provide such as positive impact human-animal interactions opportunities appreciate nature’s beauty. Finally, zoo critics often emphasize negative effects animals while neglecting substantial efforts made by toward welfare implementation. By accurately recognizing multifaceted values can ensuring highest standards care, a strong case be their continued importance.

Language: Английский

---

Automated long-term monitoring of stereotypical movement in polar bears under human care using machine learning

Ecological Informatics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 102840 - 102840

Published: Oct. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

---

Correction: ‘The welfare problems of wide-ranging Carnivora reflect naturally itinerant lifestyles’ (2023), by Bandeli et al.

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10(12)

Published: Dec. 1, 2023

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230437.][This 10.1098/rsos.230437.].

Language: Английский

---