Manatees in Zoological Parks throughout the World: History, State, and Welfare
The order Sirenia comprises several species of manatees and one species of dugong. These popular marine mammals are relatively recent acquisitions to zoological parks throughout the world. As far as we know, there are less than 200 manatees, mostly American, a few African, and ever less Amazonian, currently in zoological parks. American manatees are predominantly […]
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 […]
The Impacts of a Commercial Bubble Curtain on Zoo-Housed African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) Swimming Behavior
Swimming is an important behavior for all penguin species. However, zoo-housed penguins typically do not swim as often as their wild counterparts, which may have consequences for their health and welfare. In an effort to increase the swimming time of the African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) population at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, IL, USA (21 […]
Environmental enrichment for reptiles in European zoos: Current status and perspectives
Zoos and aquaria are paying increasing attention to environmental enrichment, which has proven an effective tool for the improvement of animal welfare. However, several ongoing issues have hampered progress in environmental enrichment research. Foremost among these is the taxonomic bias, which hinders our understanding of the value of enrichment for neglected groups, such as reptiles. […]
Doing better for understudied species: Evaluation and improvement of a species-general animal welfare assessment tool for zoos
Accredited zoos and aquariums are required to have a welfare assessment process in place for the animals in their care. However, welfare assessment theoretical frameworks and methodologies vary widely. Previous studies have shown that taxonomic biases in research are found broadly within the field of animal behavior and specifically within applied animal welfare science, which […]
The perception of felid welfare by zookeepers in North America and the implications for zoo managers
Abstract Zookeepers working with felids were asked to complete an online survey to examine their perceptions of animal welfare. A total of 121 zookeepers in an AZA-accredited zoo completed the survey. Results from this study suggest that institutional offerings of professional development programming in animal welfare have the greatest potential to influence zookeeper perceptions of […]
Zoo studies in primate physiology, health, and welfare
Researchers have been studying primates in zoos for more than half a century. There are numerous benefits to conducting research with zoo collections, such as access to a variety of species, ease of sample collection, and the potential to manipulate some research variables. While much of the primate research conducted in zoos is behavioral, there […]
A debilitating digestive condition in captive red panda Ailurus fulgens with animal welfare implications for the global population
Investigations into the possible cause of a recurring, debilitating digestive condition in a male red panda Ailurus fulgens held at Perth Zoo, and a subsequent global survey in 2012 of 76 institutions managing the species, indicate that similar signs are widespread amongst the global zoo population of red pandas. Neither medication nor dietary interventions appear […]
Is Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Wounding Frequency Affected by the Presence Versus Absence of Visitors? A Multi-Institutional Study
Visitor effect studies have had inconsistent results, due in part to the inability to control for all confounding variables such as time of day, seasonal weather patterns, and so forth. This study represents the first instance where chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) wounding frequencies were investigated across extensive time periods in the presence and complete absence of […]
Urinary oxytocin and cortisol concentrations vary by group type in male western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in North American zoos
Evaluating how primates in human care function within their social environment is important for understanding and optimizing their management and welfare. The neuroendocrine hormone oxytocin is associated with affiliation and bonding, suggesting it can be used to evaluate the affiliative nature of social groupings. When paired with cortisol concentrations, social stressors can simultaneously be assessed, […]