Quantifying Acute Behavioral Reactions of Bali Mynas (Leucopsar rothschildi) to Environmental and Progressively Challenging Enrichment
Animals use specific behaviors and skills to overcome challenges and access resources. Environmental enrichment is provided to animals in human care to both promote species-appropriate behaviors and reduce undesired behaviors. Feather pecking in birds is an undesired behavior without a clear cause. The Saint Louis Zoo houses three pairs of young Bali mynas (Leucopsar rothschildi) […]
Cognitive enrichment in a social setting: assessing the use of a novel food maze in sanctuary-housed chimpanzees
Foraging devices are effective enrichment tools for non-human primates, as they provide both cognitive and manipulative stimulation that may enhance these animals’ welfare. We assessed the behavioral effects of a novel tool-based enrichment on 14 chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) housed at Fundació Mona (Girona, Spain). The device consisted of a vertical maze filled with food rewards, […]
Role of sensory cues on food searching behavior of a captive Manta birostris (Chondrichtyes, Mobulidae)
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20189.abs This study reports on the first experimental research designed specifically for Manta birostris behavior. The authors attempted to learn about the feeding behavior and environmental cues influencing this behavior, as well as general cognitive ability. The preconditioned Manta’s ability to identify food, on the basis of a fraction of the ordinary food signal […]
Effects of live animals vs. preserved specimens on student learning
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430080112.abs Fourth-grade students (292 in all) were tested to determine if handling live animals influences cognitive and affective learning to a greater extent than handling preserved specimens. Live and dried exoskeletons of horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) and sea stars (Asterias forbesi) were used as contact animals. All students were 1) pre- and posttested; 2) […]
Bottlenose dolphins engaging in more social affiliative behaviour judge ambiguous cues more optimistically
Cognitive bias tests measure variation in emotional appraisal and are validated methods to assess animals’ affective states. However, the link between social behaviours and cognitive bias has not yet been investigated. Bottlenose dolphins are a gregarious species for whom welfare research is increasing in importance, and thus are a good model to test such an […]