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

Considering What Animals “Need to Do” in Enclosure Design: Questions on Bird Flight and Aviaries

Birds, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(3), P. 586 - 603

Published: Sept. 12, 2024

Zoo enclosure design, and housing husbandry protocols, will always be a compromise between what species has evolved to do is possible offer in human-created environment. For some species, behaviours that are commonly performed the wild may constrained by practices used for ease or aesthetics accepted conventions. As zoos place more emphasis on positive animal welfare states, zoo enclosures should scrutinised check provided, terms of useful space, appropriate replication habitat features, maximal potential natural behaviour performance, relevant individuals being housed. need grapple with tough questions where answer not seem immediately obvious ensure they continuously improving standards care, opportunities performance species-typical behaviours, advancing attainment states. Determining importance flight, example, this adds quality life zoo-housed bird, an important question needs addressing truly advance aviculture how we determine bird welfare. This paper provides answered poses measures flight means provide evidence development evolution housing. If can devise way asking animals our care need, firmly support decisions made surround decisions. Ultimately, gathering whether birds like fly (e.g., from training demonstration activities) applying mixed methods approaches behavioural analysis, data ecology, qualitative assessment, cognitive bias testing develop robust suite tools address avian considerations. Avian scientists attempt define meaningful (i.e., suggests flying) order guidelines aviary dimensions, space allowance, outputs both flighted flight-restricted populations, most individual species. Changing term “best practice” “better would instil regular review reassessment management suitability such regimes remain appropriate. With increasingly welfare-savvy public visiting zoos, it essential seek justify kept ultimately use enact changes shown infringe

Language: Английский