Environmental Enrichment Devices Are Safe and Effective at Reducing Undesirable Behaviors in California Sea Lions and Northern Elephant Seals during Rehabilitation
Environmental enrichment devices (EEDs) have been proven to promote positive wellbeing in zoos and aquariums, and support animals’ reintroduction success; however, their use in rehabilitation centers is still limited. This pilot study investigated the safety and efficacy of three EEDs, Artificial Kelp, Horse KONG™ and Wubba Kong™, and their ability to decrease and/or eliminate undesired […]
Behaviors related to positive, neutral, or negative valence in Odocoileus virginianus in below-ground-level or ground-level exhibitor and influx of visitors
The frequency of behaviors related to positive, neutral, or negative emotional valence in Odocoileus virginianus in two zoos was compared, with below-ground-level (3 m) (BGe) or ground-level (Ge) exhibitor during days of no, low, and high influx of visitors. In BGe, 11 deer with visual barriers and 4 m from visitors were used and in Ge 18 […]
An Improvement in Enclosure Design Can Positively Impact Welfare, Reduce Aggressiveness and Stabilise Hierarchy in Captive Galapagos Giant Tortoises
The interest in the welfare of zoo animals, from both the public and the scientific community, has long been biased towards mammals. However, growing evidence of the complex behavioural repertoires of less charismatic animals, such as reptiles, reveals the necessity to better comply with their welfare needs in captivity. Here, we present the effects of […]
Captivity and habituation to humans raise curiosity in vervet monkeys
Behavioural response of zoo-housed Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) to changes in exhibit and social group
Moving animals to a new exhibit within a zoo is generally done with that animal’s well-being in mind. However, there are many factors that need to be considered when evaluating changes in well-being associated with environmental changes, such as the amount of time needed to habituate to the novel environment, and, for social animals, the […]
Habituation potential of yellow-eyed penguins depends on sex, character and previous experience with humans
Animal populations are increasingly challenged by anthropogenic environmental changes. Species, populations and individuals vary in their ability to cope with exposure to human proximity. However, little is known about what drives habituation or sensitization in wild populations. Via behavioural observations and heart rate telemetry during experimental disturbance, we determined the habituation potential of yellow-eyed penguins, […]
Bold, shy, and persistent: Variable coyote response to light and sound stimuli
To improve frightening device technology for managing predation, we examined variation in coyote (Canis latrans) response to visual, auditory, and combined stimuli using a behavior-contingent programmable frightening device. We hoped to gather information on the relative effectiveness of light, sound, and combined stimuli for deterring coyotes from a food resource. We exposed five pairs of […]
Maximizing the effectiveness of environmental enrichment: Suggestions from the experimental analysis of behavior☆
Environmental enrichment programs provide benefits to both captive animals and the facilities that house them, but cost time and resources to design, implement, and maintain. As yet, there have been few theoretically based guidelines to assist animal care staff in establishing cost-efficient enrichment methods that both elicit the desired behavioral changes and maintain their success […]
A single exposure to an acute stressor has lasting consequences for the hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal response to stress in free-living birds
In vertebrates, activation of the hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis in response to unpredictable events results in elevated glucocorticoid secretion. Repeated exposure to stressors alters subsequent glucocorticoid secretion, either by inducing chronic stress or as a result of habituation. However, most studies of repeated stress focus on the impacts of multiple and frequent exposures to acute stressors, […]
Corticosterone responses of hand-reared and parent-reared grey-faced petrel chicks (Pterodroma macroptera gouldi)
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20047.abs Hand-reared grey-faced petrel (Pterodroma macroptera gouldi) chicks (Order Procellariformes) that were subjected to a standardised blood sampling protocol immediately before they fledged showed a reduced corticosterone response compared to parent-raised chicks. Serum corticosterone concentrations were lower in hand-reared than parent-reared birds 30 and 60 min after handling was initiated (21.5±6.7 vs. 105.4±7.4 ng/ml […]