Frustrated Appetitive Foraging Behavior, Stereotypic Pacing, and Fecal Glucocorticoid Levels in Snow Leopards (<i>Uncia uncia</i>) in the Zurich Zoo

Burgener, Nicole; Gusset, Markus; Schmid, Hans

doi:10.1080/10888700701729254

Cited by 23 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Pacing is a widespread behavior in captive mammals and is operationally defined as repetitive locomotion in a fixed pattern (Burgener et al, 2008;Mason, 2006;Shyne, 2006). Specifically, the behavior comprises the majority of reported stereotypies among zoo-housed carnivores Clubb and Vickery, 2006;Mason et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Defining pacing quantitatively: A comparison of gait characteristics between pacing and non-repetitive locomotion in zoo-housed polar bears

Cless

Voss-Hoynes

Ritzmann

et al. 2015

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Defining pacing quantitatively: A comparison of gait characteristics between pacing and non-repetitive locomotion in zoo-housed polar bears

Cless

Voss-Hoynes

Ritzmann

et al. 2015

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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“…Zoo researchers often utilize glucocorticoid measures as a way to assess how animals cope with captive stressors (Armstrong & Santymire, 2013;Brown, Kersey, Freeman, & Wagener, 2010;Burgener, Gusseta, & Schmidb, 2008;Loeding, Thomas, Bernier, & Santymire, 2011). A link between personality measures (behavioral responses that are consistent across time) and the physiological stress response (i.e., the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)) axis activity) has been termed a coping style (Koolhaas et al, 1999).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Rating Methodology, Personality Axes, and Behavioral Plasticity: A Case Study in African Lions

Torgerson-White¹,

Bennett²

2014

ABC

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-Animal personality refers to individual differences in behavior that are consistent across time and across contexts. As it plays an ecological and evolutionary role for many animals by affecting fitness, it is likely to play a role in how both species and individuals fare in captivity. Assessment of animal personality by caretaker ratings has been validated using behavioral coding methods in a number of species and has thus become the most common method for assessing personality of captive animals. Whereas the reliability of rating methodology is arguable, the reality of working in a captive setting makes assessment of animal personality by caretaker ratings an easy and practical way to investigate questions related to personality. We used a case study in African lions to investigate the use of rating methodology to uncover personality traits. We then related dimensionality of those traits to fecal glucocorticoid metabolite values taken before, during, and after habitat renovation. The end goal was to devise a method by which individual welfare can be considered and improved by considering personality traits. Interobserver reliability scores revealed that only 11 out of 18 traits and four out of six lions were reliably rated. From those traits, we uncovered a sociability-neuroticism axis, whereby lions that were more social and less neurotic had lower glucocorticoid metabolite levels (GCM). In addition, we found that more vocal animals had higher GCM levels and more active animals had lower GCM levels, findings that suggest that vocalizing and activity level may be part of the way these individuals cope with stressors. These results suggest that a better understanding of a lion's sociability and neuroticism may inform management decisions during stressful times. Further investigation into the two lions who did not pass reliability testing, revealed that they had the lowest number of extreme trait ratings which suggests that they may have been the most behaviorally plastic, a characteristic that was not expressly measured by the surveys. The inability of rating methodology to measure plasticity and the role of the human-animal relationship in contributing to low reliability scores are discussed. We suggest that the most widely used personality surveys may work well for animals who exhibit low levels of plasticity and whose behavior falls closer to the extremes of a continuum, but may be less helpful for more plastic animals whose personality traits fall in the mid-range.

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“…A complex environment with diverse and novel stimuli can encourage interaction and activity within the setting and its surroundings (Laule, ), offering choice and stimulation, and providing for good welfare. Yet, appropriate environmental enrichment for every species must be carefully considered prior to implementation and monitored (Rees, ), as well as assessed and, where necessary, modified to ensure the positive welfare benefits of its use (Burgener et al ., ).…”

Section: Fundamental Requirementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The welfare of wild animals in zoological institutions: are we meeting our duty of care?

Blackett

McKenna²,

Kavanagh

et al. 2016

International Zoo Yearbook

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Across the world there are many different species of wild animals maintained in zoological institutions of one sort or another for a variety of purposes. Their welfare is directly dependent upon the quality of life they experience, which in turn is driven by the understanding the owner/keeper has of the needs of the animals. This ‘understanding’ may or may not be informed by scientific knowledge. Sub‐optimal conditions and/or husbandry practices can result in injury, disease and poor mental health; hence, it is critical that environmental conditions, management and husbandry techniques are employed that promote positive physical and psychological health for all wild animals in human care. An individual needs good psychological health, as well as good physical health, to achieve good welfare. Further complicating the issue is the variation in existing animal‐welfare legislation and in the range of species afforded protection under the legislation between different countries. This paper emerges from an initiative to improve and promote good welfare in zoological institutions that have suboptimal conditions in countries where help is needed most. This initiative included fostering relationships with zoo and aquarium officials and regulatory bodies based on an assessment of what needs to be done for specific facilities to improve welfare for the animals under their care. An approach to advancing animal welfare was developed by establishing the fundamental requirements for the welfare of wild animals in human care and developing an accompanying assessment tool. This approach incorporated the Five Domains animal‐welfare model as the central evaluative device.

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Frustrated Appetitive Foraging Behavior, Stereotypic Pacing, and Fecal Glucocorticoid Levels in Snow Leopards (Uncia uncia) in the Zurich Zoo

Cited by 23 publications

References 34 publications

Defining pacing quantitatively: A comparison of gait characteristics between pacing and non-repetitive locomotion in zoo-housed polar bears

Defining pacing quantitatively: A comparison of gait characteristics between pacing and non-repetitive locomotion in zoo-housed polar bears

Rating Methodology, Personality Axes, and Behavioral Plasticity: A Case Study in African Lions

The welfare of wild animals in zoological institutions: are we meeting our duty of care?

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