Effects of enclosure complexity and visitor presence on the welfare of Asiatic lions
In recent years, there has been much research into the individual effects of enclosure complexity and visitor presence on captive animal welfare. However, the inter-linkages between enclosure complexity and visitor presence and their combined influence on the welfare of large carnivores like Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica) remains poorly understood. We compared the welfare status […]
Nutritional and behavioral effects of gorge and fast feeding in captive lions
Nonhuman animals in captivity manifest behaviors and physiological conditions that are not common in the wild. Lions in captivity face problems of obesity, inactivity, and stereotypy. To mediate common problems of captive lions, this study implemented a gorge and fast feeding schedule that better models naturalistic patterns: African lions (Panthera leo) gradually adapted from a […]
Environmental effects on the behavior of zoo-housed lions and tigers, with a case study of the effects of a visual barrier on pacing
Tigers and lions in the wild are nocturnal nonhuman animals who may hunt and mate opportunistically during daylight hours. In captivity, they spend most time on exhibit sleeping or pacing. To better understand their activity budget, this study examined the daily behavior patterns of 2 Sumatran tigers and 3 African lions in different housings. The […]
Panthera leo
species monograph
Eavesdropping and Risk Assessment Between Lions, Spotted Hyenas and African Wild Dogs
Vocalizing allows rapid transmission of detailed information beyond line of sight. However, the risk of eavesdropping by unintended receivers means there is also a potential cost to any vocalization. For fugitive species such as African wild dogs the potential cost of attracting dangerous competitors as eavesdroppers is especially significant. Experiments presented here demonstrate that eavesdropping […]
Relative contributions of urine and anal-sac secretions in scent marks of large felids
A hypothesis generated from field observations of lions and tigers was tested in a zoo setting. The presence of a whitish material in urine marks, detected by visual inspection, led to the sumrise that anal-sac secretions were expelled along with urine. This hypothesis was evaluated by labelling anal-sace secretions of various felids with an inert […]
Chemical communication in large carnivores: Urine-marking frequencies in captive tigers and lions
Environmental and social pres-sures can result in interspecies differences in mark-ing behaviours. There is a strong relationship between marking behaviour and the environment. Therefore, closely related species that show behav-ioural differences in the wild may have different scent marking strategies. We conducted a compara-tive study of the urine-marking behaviours of tigers and lions in captivity […]
Early post-release movements and behaviour of reintroduced cheetahs and lions
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