Behavior of polar bear (Ursus maritimus) cubs post-den emergence at the Detroit Zoo
In the wild, female polar bears (Ursus maritimus) with cubs may spend extended periods of time within the den following initial emergence. As a result, studying behavioral development of cubs at the denning site has been difficult and unreliable. Although care staff at zoological institutions have easier access to animals, every effort is made to […]
Behavioral responses of captive brown bears Ursus arctos to the odor of conspecific urine
The behavior of brown bears Ursus arctos in captivity is often stereotypic. Given that olfactory communication plays a primary role in the life of Ursidae, this study investigated the behavioral responses of brown bears to the odor of conspecific urine and its effectiveness in reducing stereotypies in captivity. The study was conducted in six zoos […]
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 […]
Effects of social stress on the welfare of captive male Alpine musk deer: Stereotypic behavior, fecal cortisol, and musk secretion
Wild Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), which are native to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and surrounding areas, have been kept in captivity as an effective way to conserve musk deer ex situ and sustainably utilize musk resources. From 1 November to 31 December of 2019, the behaviors of 40 captive Alpine musk deer in Xinglongshan Musk […]
Case study: Modifying repetitive behavior in a polar bear (Ursus maritimus)
Stereotypic pacing in zoo-housed carnivores has been intensively researched for decades, revealing that it is a subtly complex behavior with a highly variable etiology. While pacing can be an indicator of poor welfare, it can also be anticipatory in nature, or even have a completely different motivating operation. In this case study, the pacing of […]
Effects of Complex Feeding Enrichment on the Behavior of Captive Malayan Sun Bears (Helarctos malayanus)
All zoos grapple with challenges of keeping captive animals engaged in natural behaviors, especially for bears which prove to be among the more challenging species to keep stimulated. In captivity, a common indicator of poor welfare is the presence of stereotypic behaviors. This study tests whether providing complex feeding enrichment devices decreases the duration of […]
Welfare of encaged rodents: species specific behavioral reaction of voles to new enrichment items
The enrichment of the environment of captive animals is one of the methods applied to reduce stress of the animals and to assure their proper welfare. However, placing objects in a limited space of a cage does not always have to stimulate positive responses. We conducted an experiment to investigate how universal the reaction of […]
Behavioral Diversity as a Potential Indicator of Positive Animal Welfare
Modern day zoos and aquariums continuously assess the welfare of their animals and use evidence to make informed management decisions. Historically, many of the indicators of animal welfare used to assess the collection are negative indicators of welfare, such as stereotypic behavior. However, a lack of negative indicators of animal welfare does not demonstrate that […]
Foraging enrichment alleviates oral repetitive behaviors in captive red-tailed black cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus banksii)
The relationship between inadequate foraging opportunities and the expression of oral repetitive behaviors has been well documented in many production animal species. However, this relationship has been less-well examined in zoo-housed animals, particularly avian species. The expression of oral repetitive behavior may embody a frustrated foraging response, and may therefore be alleviated with the provision […]
Characterization and correlations of behavioral and adrenocortical activities of zoo-housed lesser anteaters (Tamandua tetradactyla)
We characterized behavioral and adrenocortical activities of Tamandua tetradactyla under human care driven by the hypothesis that they vary between males and females. We also assessed the potential association between natural or abnormal behaviors and adrenocortical activity. We kept females and males T. tetradactyla in individual, contiguous enclosures at Cordoba Zoo (Argentina), under natural photoperiod […]