Using Keeper Questionnaires to Capture Zoo-Housed Tiger (Panthera tigris) Personality: Considerations for Animal Management

Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 2(4), P. 650 - 663

Published: Nov. 30, 2021

Individual personalities affect animal experiences of zoo environments, impact on an animal’s coping ability and have potential implications for welfare. Keeper assessments been identified as a quick reliable way capturing data personality in range species practical application improving welfare individual level. Despite widespread recognition the importance within environment, there is paucity research into tiger this zoos. This investigated 34 tigers (19 Amur 15 Sumatran) across 14 facilities UK using keeper ratings changes keepers made husbandry to support Reliability (n = 49) was established nine adjectives principal component analysis three components: ‘anxious’, ‘quiet’ ‘sociable’. When subspecies were combined, no relationship between scores components age or sex (p > 0.05). Subspecies not related ‘sociable’ Sumatran scored more highly than ‘anxious’ (mean ± SD, Sumatran: 3.0 1.7, Amur: 1.8 0.6, p < Analysis found that male sociable females males: 5.5 0.707; females: 4.15 0.55). also negatively correlated with (R −0.742, No significant differences seen tigers. Keepers reported number routines based their perceptions tigers’ personality/needs. However, these evolutionary tigers, are specific guidelines has highlighted two display we advocate further area. Specifically, highlight need validate personality, management protocols behavioural physiological metrics will enable fuller understanding identification evidence-based best practice guidelines.

Language: Английский

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Personality matters: exploring the relationship between personality and stress physiology in captive African lions

BMC Zoology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 7(1)

Published: June 2, 2022

Considering animals as individuals and not species is becoming increasingly essential to animal welfare management in captive settings. Recent studies on big cat personalities coping strategies suggest personality can help cats cope their surroundings. Yet a large portion of the published literature focuses understanding either or stress physiology cats. Our research shows how integrating an improved with may enhance welfare, especially for endangered like African lions. By using wild checklist, this study compared key dimensions 22 lions its faecal glucocorticoids assessed factors influencing physiology.We found two reliable (dominance agreeableness) identified (sex, age location) that influence personality. Further, testing if these influenced through variations glucocorticoid levels, there was no significant difference. However, strong negative association between agreeableness levels. These results behavioural traits loading positively higher are associated lower which assist lion stressors surroundings.Our findings highlight integrated approach linking be beneficial caretakers. For example, during stressful veterinary procedures reintroduction programs, recognizing designing providing them resources will alleviate stress. Thus, need more interdisciplinary approaches contribute towards enhancing individual overall

Language: Английский

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Kibble diet is associated with higher faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations in zoo-managed red wolves (Canis rufus)

Conservation Physiology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Abstract The red wolf (Canis rufus) is a critically endangered canid that exists solely because of the establishment ex situ population in late 1980s. Yet, under human care suffers from gastrointestinal (GI) disease captivity. While cause GI unknown, it speculated environmental factors can influence health zoo-managed wolves. goal present study was to investigate relationship between faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentrations, biomarker for stress, and Faecal samples were collected 14 adult wolves three times week 5 12 months. Using single-antibody cortisol enzyme immunoassay, FGM concentrations quantified. Environmental each participating on dietary type, sex, type public access enclosure, density (enclosure size [ft2]/number living enclosure) monthly average status health. Red ate commercial kibble diet had both higher over time baseline compared individuals received mixed with meat. Density, or not related concentration; however, males female Our findings suggest management conditions, particularly diet, strongly concentration population. Findings this highlight importance choices individual welfare. Maintaining healthy captive imperative persistence species, including successful future reintroductions.

Language: Английский

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Welfare Implications for Tigers in Travelling Circuses

Animals, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(7), P. 1053 - 1053

Published: March 29, 2024

There are very few studies that have focused on species-specific welfare implications for tigers in a travelling circus. The absence of scientific evidence to inform nationwide legislation means still commonly used circuses across the world. A systematic review relevant published was conducted using bibliographic databases Web Science and Scopus, supplemented by narrative search. In total, 42 were identified assessed captivity, including zoos. Only eight papers directly, evidencing lack research this area. Given provide sub-optimal environment compared zoos, tiger also inferred from zoo research, within Five Domains framework. Collectively, these infer nature circus often negatively impacts domains nutrition, physical environment, health, mental state. This is due limitations enclosure size, as well both environmental behavioural enrichment. difficulty sourcing appropriate food specialised routine veterinary care. literature divided concerning interactions, specifically whether training can improve offering stimulation. However, performances associated with negative noise disruption spectators. collective indicates not suited living, inability their psychological, physiological, needs.

Language: Английский

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Evaluating the Impact of Synthesised Scent Enrichment on Behavioural and Endocrine Responses in Captive Alaotran Gentle Lemurs (Hapalemur alaotrensis)

Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(4), P. 539 - 551

Published: Sept. 25, 2024

The Alaotran gentle lemur (Hapalemur alaotrensis) is one of the world’s most endangered primates and shows low success rates in captive breeding programmes. This study tested biologically relevant scent enrichment using two synthesised mixtures likely to convey information about female fertility on behaviour three unsuccessful pairs captivity. Specifically, we compared baseline periods by combining behavioural observations (n = 240 h) with faecal endocrinology 80 samples), focussing cortisol testosterone measurements via enzyme immunoassay techniques. Then, different assess potential differences evaluate effectiveness olfactory scented unscented cotton strips. Olfactory behaviours differed sex conditions, both sexes exhibiting increased during baseline. Sexual period, variations frequency between males females depending condition. No significant changes were observed levels. However, male showed a increase second mixture. Nevertheless, overall not significant. Our findings suggest that while limited effectiveness, meaningful scents may trigger species-specific behaviours.

Language: Английский

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