Strategy for enriching the environment of captive Ursids
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
2007 |
Authors: |
Brij Kishor Gupta, Sant Prakash, A. K. Sinha |
Publication/Journal: |
Current Science |
Keywords: |
animal welfare, bears, captive animals, environmental enrichment |
Abstract:
Ursids in the wild spend considerable time and energy in finding and processing food, and defending their territories as compared to captive animals. It has become necessary to provide alternative methods of stimulating natural behaviour to meet both the mental and physical well-being of the captive animals. The present strategy for enriching the environment for captive Ursids provides enrichment practices for exhibit, dietary and social enrichment and their safety consideration. The enrichment practices promote behaviour of animals by providing animals with enriched environment. It is observed that improving animal well-being by increasing exercise, satisfying behavioural needs and optimizing the level of stimulation of the animal housed at the captive facility, reduces the abnormal behaviour patterns and stimulates natural behaviour.