A method for encouraging maternal care in the giant panda

Abstract

We developed a method to facilitate maternal care in a giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) female that rejected her cub immediately after parturition. After removal of the cub, the female was systematically exposed to a regime of infant‐related stimuli, including a surrogate toy panda, accompanied by infant vocalizations and urine, and the mother's own milk. The female displayed several measures of maternal behavior toward the surrogate, for example, spending 61% of her time holding the surrogate in positions typical for the species. There was some evidence that maternal proficiency increased across the 4 weeks of the experiment. Results also indicate that the female was responsive to both infant vocalizations and urine, but not milk. After a transitional period in which we assisted the female in her efforts to nurse and groom the infant, all maternal care‐giving responsibilities were returned to the mother. Over the next 3 months, the pattern of maternal care followed the species‐typical course of declining mother‐infant contact, grooming, overall interaction time, and responsiveness to the cub's vocalizations. This study marks the first successful reunification of a giant panda mother with an infant separated at birth and, it is hoped, will serve as a model for similar efforts elsewhere. Zoo Biol 19:53–63, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Understanding Circadian and Circannual Behavioral Cycles of Captive Giant Pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) Can Help to Promote Good Welfare

“…We also saw this pattern over time, though firm conclusions cannot be drawn because of the inability to model these behaviors. We expected that the proximity between the mother and cub would match this result and decline overtime, as was also seen in the study by Zhang [91]. However, the proximity data across the seasons do not show an increasing proportion of time spent in distant proximity between the mother and cub, but rather show an increase in proximity towards the end of the observation period.…”

“…Occasional nursing was seen by the keepers until the separation process was completed, and the mother and cub were housed entirely separate 11 months after the study concluded. However, another study on a giant panda's maternal behavior found a gradual decrease in non-nursing maternal behavior towards her cub up to 150 days after birth [91]. We also saw this pattern over time, though firm conclusions cannot be drawn because of the inability to model these behaviors.…”

“…Further investigation should be conducted to determine if this is a natural cycle of nursing behavior in pandas, or whether this was only observed because nighttime allowed for undisturbed interactions between the mother and cub in the absence of zoo visitors and staff. Giant pandas are notoriously difficult to breed, and even following a live birth, cubs may be rejected both in the wild and in captivity [91]. Therefore, understanding the rhythms of maternal behaviors can assist staff in providing the proper environment and privacy at the right times of day and across the time spent nursing, helping giant panda mothers successfully raise their offspring.…”