Activity and enrichment use in disabled Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) rescued from bile farms

Abstract

Physical disability has the potential to impede the use of environmental enrichments in rehabilitation programmes

Enclosure utilisation and activity budgets of disabled Malayan sun bears ( Helarctos malayanus )

“…Amputees spent half as much time performing locomotor behaviours as non-amputees, and this could be due to a number of reasons. Dallaire et al (2012) found that amputee Asiatic black bears spent less time on their feet, suggesting that standing and walking may be energetically costly for these individuals. In agreement, Houdijk et al (2009) found that human leg amputees consume more energy whilst walking than non-amputees.…”

“…Evenness of space use for each bear was assessed using the Shannon index on the number of instances the bear was observed in the different grid sectors. The Shannon index is typically used to classify species diversity, however it has also been successfully used as a measure of space use evenness (Dallaire et al, 2012). A high Shannon index indicated that a bear visited all sectors, spending even amounts of time in each.…”

“…They also spent a large proportion of their time sleeping and, although contact with electric fences were infrequent, if a shock did occur the blind animals would instantly retreat to a familiar and enclosed area. Similarly, blind Asiatic black bears reduce activity compared with sighted conspecifics (Dallaire et al, 2012). They also spend less time eating food dispersed around the enclosure, manipulate feeders and enrichment objects less often, and stereotype less frequently.…”

“…The Free the Bears Cambodian sanctuary is home to bears with a range of disabilities including missing limbs and paws, and impaired eyesight. Physically disabled bears are at particular risk of reduced welfare because of the difficulties they experience in moving, obtaining food, and manipulating objects in their enclosures (Dallaire et al, 2012). Furthermore, amputees may also suffer from chronic pain, as persistent pain is highly prevalent among human amputees, even several years after amputation.…”

“…The macaque also played less with other infants and juveniles, preferring to interact with adults. Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) with amputations were less active and spent less time standing than non-amputees (Dallaire et al, 2012). They also stereotyped less frequently, and used their enclosures less extensively and evenly.…”