Common porcupine (Hystrix brachyura) is one of the protected mammals in Indonesia. The existence of this species is threatened due to habitat destruction and uncontrolled poaching. In order to maintain the sustainability of porcupine from extinction, the rescue is through captive breeding (ex situ conservation). The process of domestication of porcupine begins with observing the development of its behavior, making it easier to manage in captivity. The aim of the study was to determine the development of porcupine behavior related to the domestication process in captivity. The materials used were four porcupines (two males and two females) around 18 months old and a female porcupine and a young. Each pair of porcupines is placed inside an individual cage (3.9 m long, 2.1 m wide, and 2.6 m high), which has been equipped with a place to feed and drink. The parameters observed were eating and drinking activities, locomotion, resting, eliminative (urinating and defecating), grooming, and agonistic. Whereas the female porcupine and a young observed maternal porcupine care for the young. The observation method is based on one-zero sampling. Observations began at 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. with a time interval of 15 minutes. The results showed that daily activity of porcupines included 52.01% resting, 19.95% locomotion, 12.73% grooming, 10.05% feeding, 2.95% agonistic, 1.74% urinating, 0.39% drinking, and 0.18% defecating. Porcupine parental activity in the lactation period is breastfeeding (49.26%), cleansing the young’s body (36.16%), teaching grooming (5.71%), teaching opening the cage door (4.10%), teaching meal (2.89%), and agonistic (1.88%).
This study aimed to extend our current knowledge of Sunda porcupine reproductive biology with emphasis on environmental enrichment and the reproductive season. Tomato and bean sprout feeding able to increase sperm quantity, sperm motility, and viability, as well as increase FSH and estrogen hormone levels. Four pairs of captive Sunda porcupine were used. Two pairs (fed with fresh tomato and bean sprout, enrichment group) and two pairs as control. The birth rate of enrichment group higher (with twin litter per year) than that in control (only one litter per year). It indicated that tomato and bean sprout feeding affect the birth rate in Sunda porcupine. The recent study showed that captive Sunda porcupine births occurred throughout the year, with no more than 1-2 litter per year and are have no interbirth-interval. The birth peak of captive Sunda porcupine occurs between April to August. Biparental activities during birth occurred. However, the female spent 50% of the time with the newborn. There was no courtship behaviour throughout the first two or three months of life of the cub.
Nutrition is an important aspect of the successful breeding of wild birds in captivity. This research aims to find out nestling growth of Eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus, Müller 1776) by parent-reared and nutrient requirement during rearing season. This research used a pair of Eclectus parrot with a male chick at first and fifth clutch, and female chick at the second, third, and fourth clutch. This research was conducted from July 2016 to June 2018. The bodyweight of chick was measured every week and feed intake was observed since the age of one week until the chick can eat independently. Feed was provided ad libitum and cafeteria. The chick was the altricial type. Feathers began to cover all bodies at weeks 9. Fledging time was approximately at weeks 10-11. Chick could be separated from its parents at 20 weeks of age. Feed intake tends to be increased along with the increasing age of chick. Eclectus favorites feed is sunflower seed. Nutrient consumption when rearing male chick is more than rearing the female chick.
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