Personality traits in captive Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) in Brazil and perspectives for the release of individuals
Personality refers to an individual feature which is consistent over time and contexts and modulates how animals perceive and interact with the surrounding environment, influencing life history traits such as foraging, dispersion and reproduction. So far, very little is known about the Antillean manatee’s personality. Here we aimed to investigate personality traits of nine captive […]
Studying Antillean manatees’(Trichechus manatus manatus) temperament in zoological parks: exploration of boldness, sociality and reactivity to humans
Temperament, i.e. consistent inter-individual differences in behavior, has been documented in many species. Especially, boldness-shyness continuum is the ecologically relevant trait most frequently used to describe temperament among species. Reactions along the bold-shy axis demonstrate an organism’s ability to cope with environmental conditions and reflect its response to environmental stress. Our study investigated the existence […]
Glucocorticoid Production, Activity Levels, And Personality Traits Of Fennec Foxes (Vulpes zerda) Managed For Different Roles In Zoos
Fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentrations, activity, and personality were assessed for 35 fennec foxes (Vulpes zerda) to determine whether animals managed as ambassadors differed from exhibit or off-exhibit animals. A FGM assay, pedometer, and personality assessment tool were validated. Then, fecal samples and movement data were collected during winter and summer periods. Handling was recorded, […]
The relationship between personality, season, and wounding receipt in zoo-housed Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata): A multi-institutional study
It is important to those managing Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) in captive settings to understand predictors of wounding. While studies have demonstrated that season (breeding or nonbreeding) and sex predict rates of wounding received by zoo-housed Japanese macaques, we investigated whether individual differences in personality ratings also might explain some of the observed interindividual variance […]
Caretaker Score Reliability for Personality Assessment of Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
The evaluation of zoo animals’ personalities can likely lead to a range of benefits, including improving breeding success, creating stable social groups, and designing and developing environmental enrichment programmes. The goal of this study was to use caretakers scores to evaluate personality in bottlenose dolphins and to assess the reliability of scores within each rater […]
Happiness, Welfare, and Personality in Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta)
When we treat an animal’s welfare as an individual experience, we should consider the possibility that it may be associated with individual differences in personality. We tested for such associations in 44 socially housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) that lived at the California National Primate Research Center. For each macaque, we obtained ratings on a […]
A Systematic Review of Equine Personality
Examining the literature suggests equine personality is of interest to behavior and welfare scientists and those involved in the equine industry. Study and assessment of personality is critical because of the profound implications certain traits have with respect to injury risk, the horse-human relationship, training processes, learning in horses, and management or breeding practices. The […]
Preliminary model of personality structure in captive red pandas (Ailurus fulgens)
Research on animal personality has revealed that it is stable and contextually consistent and has a significant impact on an animal’s physiology and psychological wellbeing. Personality, sometimes referred to as behavioral syndromes, personality dimensions, or temperament, impacts health, reproductive success, and survival, and is thus an important factor to consider when assessing the welfare of […]
Evaluating the Behavior and Temperament of African Penguins in a Non-Contact Animal Encounter Program
Animal ambassador programs are increasingly prevalent in zoos, yet few studies have investigated their impact on animal welfare. We assessed the effects of an ambassador program on the behavior of a colony (N = 15) of zoo-housed African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) and evaluated whether individual characteristics were predictive of participation. Behavioral data were collected for […]
Rating Methodology, Personality Axes, and Behavioral Plasticity: A Case Study in African Lions
Animal personality refers to individual differences in behavior that are consistent across time and across contexts. As it plays an ecological and evolutionary role for many animals by affecting fitness, it is likely to play a role in how both species and individuals fare in captivity. Assessment of animal personality by caretaker ratings has been […]