Captivity effects on wide-ranging carnivores

Clubb, Ros; Mason, Georgia

doi:10.1038/425473a

Cited by 334 publications

(243 citation statements)

References 9 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

237

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Restricted space and lack of exercise in captivity are possible stress factors (Mason et al, 2001;Clubb and Mason, 2003) because free-ranging cheetahs have large home ranges as well as physical and behavioral adaptations for chasing prey . Cheetahs also are largely solitary, avoiding contact with humans, other carnivores, and unrelated cheetahs except during mating (Caro, 1994).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extrinsic Factors Significantly Affect Patterns of Disease in Free-Ranging and Captive Cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus) Populations

Munson

Terio

Worley

et al. 2005

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

113

112

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) has been considered a paradigm for disease vulnerability due to loss of genetic diversity. This species monomorphism has been suspected to be the basis for their general poor health and dwindling populations in captivity. North American and South African captive populations have high prevalences of hepatic veno-occlusive disease, glomerulosclerosis, gastritis, and systemic amyloidosis, diseases that are rare in other species. Unusually severe inflammatory reactions to common infectious agents have also been documented in captive cheetahs. The current study compared disease prevalences in free-ranging Namibian cheetahs with those in two captive populations of similar ages. The occurrence of diseases in the free-ranging population was determined from 49 necropsies and 27 gastric biopsies obtained between 1986 and 2003 and compared with prevalences in 147 North American and 80 South African captive cheetahs. Except for two cheetahs, the free-ranging population was in robust health with only mild lesions present, in contrast with significantly higher prevalences in the captive populations. Despite widespread heavy Helicobacter colonization in wild cheetahs, only 3% of the free-ranging population had moderate to severe gastritis, in contrast with 64% of captive cheetahs. No severe inflammatory reactions to viral infections were detected in the free-ranging animals. Because free-ranging Namibian cheetahs are as genetically impoverished as captive cheetahs, these findings caution against attributing loss of fitness solely to genetic factors and attest to the fundamental importance of extrinsic factors in wildlife health.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extrinsic Factors Significantly Affect Patterns of Disease in Free-Ranging and Captive Cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus) Populations

Munson

Terio

Worley

et al. 2005

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

113

112

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…lions) both captiveinfant mortality and stereotypy frequency (e.g. pacing) are dramatically high [44]. Remarkably, polar bears in captivity show less pacing and disturbed behaviors when they are treated with the antidepressant Prozac, which is also prescribed in human patients suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorders [45].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new animal welfare concept based on allostasis

Korte

Olivier

Koolhaas

2007

Physiology & Behavior

259

181

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Animal welfare is an increasing issue of public concern and debate. As a result, many countries are reconsidering the way animal welfare is embedded in the legislation and rules for housing and care of animals. This requires general agreement of what animal welfare is. Unfortunately, the current science of animal welfare is less scientific than what has been claimed. In our view, it is overly guided by anthropocentric thinking about how animals ought to be handled and neglects the latest concept of physiology: 'The Allostasis Concept'. Allostasis, which means stability through change, has the potential to replace homeostasis as the core model of physiological regulation. Not constancy or freedoms, but capacity to change is crucial to good physical and mental health and good animal welfare. Therefore, not homeostasis but allostasis is at the basis of our new animal welfare concept. This paper is aimed at a broader scientific discussion of animal welfare that includes knowledge from the latest scientific developments in neurobiology and behavioral physiology, and generates views that are extremely relevant for the animal welfare discussion.

show abstract

“…Lawrence and Terlouw, 1993); hyperactivity and stereotypic behaviour in canids and polar bears when opportunities are absent to explore (e.g. Wechsler, 1991;Clubb and Mason, 2003). One hypothesis that links behavioural deprivation and stereotypic behaviours is the involvement of reward systems that may compensate for inability to interact with functional substrates or meet relevant behavioural endpoints (e.g.…”

Section: Compensatory Actionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

To swim or not to swim: An interpretation of farmed mink's motivation for a water bath

Vinke

Hansen

Mononen

et al. 2008

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SummaryHow an animal's behavioural (ethological) needs can be met is a pivotal issue in the assessment of welfare for captive animals. The value of swimming water for farmed mink is an example how scientific and societal questions relating to animal welfare can be answered. A number of studies have addressed the issue of the indispensability of swimming water for mink; however, so far with inconclusive evidence. In this paper, the results of these studies and related literature are reviewed.First, the biological definition of need is discussed. Subsequently, attention is paid to the effects of the presence, absence and the removal of swimming water on behavioural and physiological correlates of well-being including stereotypic and anticipatory behaviour and urinary cortisol.Thereafter we discuss individual differences in the use of swimming water, the price animals pay for access to a water bath, and the effect of access to swimming water on juvenile play.The main conclusions of the literature review are that 1) the use of a water bath for mink is most likely related to foraging behaviour (foraging areas: land and water); 2) absence of swimming water, without prior experience, does not lead to consistent changes in level of stereotypic behaviour, or anticipatory responses; 3) removal of a previously experienced water bath may induce short-term stress as indicated by behavioural parameters and elevated cortisol responses; 4) mink work hard for access to a swimming bath and running wheel in consumer demand studies. Other cage modifications such as tunnels and biting objects, may also provide environmental enrichment, if they are added to otherwise impoverished conditions; 5) There are individual differences in the use of swimming water: these are related in part to variation in prior experience of aquatic resources.; 6) As prior experience is important both with respect to individual use of swimming water and the response to deprivation, swimming water can not be described as biological need in the sense of a fixed requirement for survival. As swimming water appears to act as an incentive that induces its own motivation a more accurate term may be an "incentive induced or environmentally facilitated need". Given the available evidence, it is not possible to conclude whether mink that have never experienced swimming water, suffer as a consequence of its absence. However, it is possible to predict that mink with access to water have improved quality of life, due to increased behavioural opportunities, in comparison to farmed mink without access to swimming water. In practical terms, it is still open to debate whether mink should be provided with swimming water, or if alternative, less valued, but easier to install and maintain forms of environmental enrichment, should be provided in mink housing.To clarify these issues a number of future studies would be valuable. These include; 1) whether specific environmental cues affect motivation to swim, such as the form of drinking water delivery systems ; 2) whether prior ex...

show abstract

Captivity effects on wide-ranging carnivores

Cited by 334 publications

References 9 publications

Extrinsic Factors Significantly Affect Patterns of Disease in Free-Ranging and Captive Cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus) Populations

Extrinsic Factors Significantly Affect Patterns of Disease in Free-Ranging and Captive Cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus) Populations

A new animal welfare concept based on allostasis

To swim or not to swim: An interpretation of farmed mink's motivation for a water bath

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About