Conservation Physiology of Tigers in Zoos: Integrating Stress Physiology and Behaviour to Monitor Their Health and Welfare

Abstract

Big cats in zoos can face challenges associated with captive environments such as inadequate biological adaptation, increased occurrence abnormal behaviour and healthrelated problems. Conservation physiology is an emerging theme and a dynamic field of research, which aims to reduce these challenges of big cats captive management programmes through new scientific research integrating physiology and behaviour. This field of research applies cutting-edge physiological tools (e.g. non-invasive reproductive and stress hormone monitoring) in combination with traditional methods of behaviour and veterinary health assessments to provide a holistic account of how big cats respond to the captive environment. This book chapter discusses the applications of conservation physiology tools in the captive management of tigers in zoos. Our goal is to bolster tiger captive management in zoos by studying their stress physiology. Overall, the application of conservation physiology tools into captive management programmes for tigers and other big cat species can provide valuable information for evaluating and managing stress, thus improving tiger welfare.

Personality Matters: Exploring the Relationship between Personality and Stress Physiology in Captive African Lions

“…A coping style comprises an external behavioural with an internal physiological stress response; this response is consistent over time and is characteristic to a certain group of individuals when faced with a stressor [6]. Internally, the animal initiates a neuroendocrine stress response when faced with a stressor, that releases stress hormones called catecholamines (rapid flight-fight response) and glucocorticoids (slow responding endocrine response) with acute or chronic effects [8][9][10]. However, the way an animal perceives these stressors may vary due to its personality, which is highlighted in its glucocorticoid (GC) levels [11].…”

Positive reinforcement conditioning as Sumatran tiger's (Panthera tigris sumatrae) social enrichment at Tambling Wildlife Nature Conservation Rescue Centre, Lampung, Indonesia

“…While on the diagnostic test may appear on the complete blood count (platelet hypersensitivities, lymphocytosis, neutrophilia), blood chemistry (hyperglycemia, hypokalemia under epinephrin release), urine analysis (pH level alteration), and hypertension (Rodan 2010). Stress influences physiological conditions such as; immune system activation (Hellhammer et al 2010;Narayan et al 2017), metabolism, cardiovascular function, reproduction, behavior, and cognition (Narayan et al 2017). Physiological changes appear as responses to the stressor/stimuli (Narayan et al 2017).…”

“…Stress influences physiological conditions such as; immune system activation (Hellhammer et al 2010;Narayan et al 2017), metabolism, cardiovascular function, reproduction, behavior, and cognition (Narayan et al 2017). Physiological changes appear as responses to the stressor/stimuli (Narayan et al 2017). Stressor bothers physical's homeostatic then initiates flight or fight response.…”

“…Species may adapt to cope (coping response) through stressing environment (stressor) (Hofer and East 1998;Sapolsky et al 2000;Narayan et al 2017) and anthropogenic disturbances (Hofer and East 1998). Stress is a component of a tiger's life cycle and is not inherited.…”

“…Stress is a component of a tiger's life cycle and is not inherited. Stress prepares individuals to perform hunting behavior, mating behavior, and feeding behavior (Narayan et al 2017). Abiotic environmental stressor on wild animal has been recorded (Morgan and Tromborg 2007).…”