Contrafreeloading Indicating the Behavioural Need to Forage in Healthy and Feather Damaging Grey Parrots
Contrafreeloading (CFL) is a concept that describes the preference of an animal to work for food even when identical food is freely available, and reflects an intrinsic motivation to engage in foraging-related activities. However, altered brain neurochemistry, which can be induced by chronic exposure to a suboptimal living environment, may affect this intrinsic motivation in […]
Increasing foraging times with appetitive and consummatory foraging enrichment in grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus)
Foraging enrichment is considered one of the most effective ways to enhance expression of species-typical behaviours and prevent the development of abnormal (repetitive) behaviours in captive animals. However, foraging enrichments for parrots have thus far not been able to approximate natural foraging time budgets nor completely eliminate abnormal behaviours such as feather damaging behaviour. This […]
Foraging enrichment affects behaviour and enclosure utilisation in captive male gelada Theropithecus gelada
Enrichment devices are important tools to engage zoo-housed animals in species-specific natural behaviours, which is critical to ensure animal welfare. The gelada Theropithecus gelada has a unique graminivorous feeding ecology, yet there is minimal enrichment research on the species. A novel foraging enrichment device was evaluated in a bachelor group of captive geladas (n=6) at […]
Forest access restores foraging and ranging behavior in captive sifakas
Captive wildlife benefit from ecologically informed management strategies that promote natural behaviors. The Duke Lemur Center has pioneered husbandry programs rooted in species’ ecology for a diversity of lemurs, including housing social groups in multiacre forest enclosures. We systematically document the foraging and ranging patterns of Coquerel’s sifakas (Propithecus coquereli) living in these forest enclosures. […]
Novel object test in farmed fallow deer (Dama dama)–The impact on appearance, diurnal rhythm and behaviour in the foraging area
The fallow deer (Dama dama) represents a typical example of a species in the early stage of domestication, where selection for tameness is not yet complete. In contrast to fully domesticated species, there is still a lack of studies on the behaviour of deer under farm conditions and their response to changes in their environment. […]
Behavioral Implications of Enrichment for Golden Lion Tamarins: A Tool for Ex Situ Conservation
The re-release of golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia), from zoos into the wild, is considered to be an ex situ conservation success story. However, zoo-born golden lion tamarins have lower survival rates than their wild-born offspring, potentially due to deficient foraging and locomotion ‘survival skills’ acquired in captivity. The current study aimed to evaluate whether […]
Enrichment reduces stereotypical behaviors and improves foraging development in rehabilitating Eastern Pacific Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina richardii)
There is empirical support for the efficacy of enrichment in decreasing stereotypical behaviors and increasing naturalistic behaviors in laboratory, agricultural, and zoological settings. However, little research has been done on the possible value of enrichment in facilitating appropriate behavioral development of rescued wildlife in rehabilitative captivity. Eastern Pacific harbor seal pups (Phoca vitulina richardii) often […]
Avian Ultraviolet Vision And Frequency-Dependent Seed Preferences
It is well established that ultraviolet sensitivity plays an important role in the visually guided behaviour of birds. From a foraging perspective, evidence now exists that ultraviolet wavelengths are used by birds when foraging for insects, berries, seeds and mammals. Here, we present the results of two laboratory experiments that test the effect of removing […]
Ultraviolet Reflection of Berries Attracts Foraging Birds. A Laboratory Study with Redwings (Turdus iliacus) and Bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus)
Unlike humans, birds perceive ultraviolet (UV) light (320 to 400 nm), a waveband which is known to play a role in avian mate choice. However, less attention has been paid to the role of UV light in avian foraging. Some blue, violet and black berries reflect UV light. The colour of berries might be an […]
Effects of food density on the behavior and distribution of nonbreeding American flamingosin Yucatan, Mexico
We sampled potential food items of American Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) in the Celestún Estuary, Yucatán, Mexico, from October 1992 to January 1993, to explore the influence of food density and distribution on flamingo behavior in relation to the ideal free distribution model. Food items were found in the substrate and vegetation and were dominated […]