Impact of alternating overnight housing conditions on welfare measures in a bachelor group of western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
Spatial parameters and design of overnight housing spaces can have significant influences on both nocturnal and diurnal behaviors of western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in captivity. This is especially true for bachelor groups, as adult males have demonstrated a greater tendency to separate from conspecifics overnight. Additionally, previous studies have suggested that the social […]
Social behaviour in zoo bachelor groups: a case study of related South American fur seals
Appropriate management of social groups is one of the greatest challenges that face zoos and aquaria worldwide. To facilitate breeding programmes, particularly in polygynous species, there is a need to house surplus males in bachelor groups, yet for pinnipeds, the social impact of this management strategy is unknown. The aim of this research was to […]
Social Behaviour in Zoo Bachelor Groups: A Case Study of Related South American Fur Seals
Appropriate management of social groups is one of the greatest challenges that face zoos and aquaria worldwide. To facilitate breeding programmes, particularly in polygynous species, there is a need to house surplus males in bachelor groups, yet for pinnipeds, the social impact of this management strategy is unknown. The aim of this research was to […]
Investigation of the efficacy of the GnRH agonist deslorelin in mitigating intraspecific aggression in captive male Amur leopards (Panthera pardus orientalis)
Housing bachelor groups is a necessary aspect of the care and husbandry of non-breeding individuals in zoological collections. Intraspecific aggressive behaviors may occur in this setting despite management strategies designed to mitigate these behaviors. Androgens (including testosterone) are associated with aggression in male species and interventional techniques to alter the animals’ physiology to modify aggressive […]
Group differences in captive gorillas’ reaction to large crowds
The impact of visitor crowd size on captive animal behaviour can be difficult to interpret in many institutions due to the lack of variation in crowd size over short periods of time. In attempts to compare greater variation in crowd size, animal behaviour is often compared over conditions that create additional confounds, such as day […]
Gorilla Behavior Index revisited: Age, housing and behavior
While personality and temperament assessments are becoming more common in animal science as a means for predicting behavior patterns, they are virtually unstudied in exotic animals outside of chimpanzees. We assessed behavioral profiles of 119 male gorillas using the Gorilla Behavior Index (GBI) and paired this assessment with behavior data on 25 male gorillas from […]
Group size and structure in western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) at Mbeli Bai, Republic of Congo
This paper describes the size and structure of western lowland gorilla groups visiting Mbeli Bai, a swampy forest clearing in northern Congo. An observation platform at the edge of the clearing was used over a 3-yr period, with gorillas visible for 1,681 hr. Data are presented on 14 groups and seven solitary males. Mean group […]