Impact of Zoo Visitors on the Fecal Cortisol Levels and Behavior of an Endangered Species: Indian Blackbuck (<i>Antelope cervicapra L</i>.)

Rajagopal, Thangavel; Archunan, ‪Govindaraju; Sekar, M.

doi:10.1080/10888705.2011.527598

Cited by 49 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…These findings are in line with results from several other studies, e.g., with blackbucks (Antelope cervicapra: Rajagopal et al 2011) and with spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyii rufiventris: Davies et al 2005). Urinary cortisol concentrations (but not saliva cortisol concentrations) likewise increased significantly with higher visitor number in captive orangutans at Chester Zoo (Wehnelt et al 2004).…”

Section: Effect Of Visitors On Stress Indicatorssupporting

confidence: 82%

The Effect of Fission–Fusion Zoo Housing on Hormonal and Behavioral Indicators of Stress in Bornean Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus)

2014

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The welfare of captive animals could be improved if zoos were to place more emphasis on their species-specific needs. In the wild, orangutans live in a fission-fusion social system and have a semisolitary lifestyle. However, most zoos keep orangutans in permanent groups, which may be stressful for them. Apenheul Primate Park in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, houses 14 Bornean orangutans in a simulated fissionfusion social system. To assess how this housing system affects indicators of stress, we measured fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM) and determined proportions of self-directed behavior (scratching and autogrooming). We compared fGCM concentrations of the Apenheul animals to those of zoo orangutans kept in permanent groups. In addition, we tested the effect of group size, visitor number, sex, age, and change of group composition on fGCM concentrations and proportions of self-directed behavior in the Apenheul orangutans. In contrast to Bornean orangutans housed in permanent groups, we did not find a group size effect on fGCM or on self-directed behavior in Apenheul's fission-fusion housing system. In addition, fGCM concentrations in Apenheul orangutans increased significantly with visitor numbers. Visitor number also affected proportions of self-directed behavior, and mean proportions of scratching were positively correlated with mean values of fGCM concentrations. Although these results suggest that the fission-fusion housing system in Apenheul reduces the group size effect leading to social stress in Bornean orangutans, they also show that visitors are an important factor that needs to be mitigated if the well-being of captive primates and other zoo animals is to be improved. Abstract The welfare of captive animals could be improved if zoos were to place more emphasis on their species-specific needs. In the wild, orangutans live in a fission-fusion social system and have a semisolitary lifestyle. However, most zoos keep orangutans in permanent groups, which may be stressful for them. Apenheul Primate Park in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, houses 14 Bornean orangutans in a simulated fission-fusion social system. To assess how this housing system affects indicators of stress, we measured fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM) and determined proportions of self-directed behavior (scratching and autogrooming). We compared fGCM concentrations of the Apenheul animals to those of zoo orangutans kept in permanent groups. In addition, we tested the effect of group size, visitor number, sex, age, and change of group composition on fGCM concentrations and proportions of self-directed behavior in the Apenheul orangutans. In contrast to Bornean orangutans housed in permanent groups, we did not find a group size effect on fGCM or on self-directed behavior in Apenheul's fissionfusion housing system. In addition, fGCM concentrations in Apenheul orangutans increased significantly with visitor numbers. Visitor number also affected proportions of self-directed behavior, and mean proportions of scratching were positively cor...

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Section: Effect Of Visitors On Stress Indicatorssupporting

confidence: 82%

The Effect of Fission–Fusion Zoo Housing on Hormonal and Behavioral Indicators of Stress in Bornean Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus)

2014

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“…The decreased inactivity in the pigs in this study is similar to findings of increased activity under conditions of greater visitor pressure in zoo-housed gaur (Sekar et al, 2008), and blackbuck (Rajagopal et al, 2011). Conversely both of these species, and also gazelles (Mansour et al, 2000), showed higher aggression under the same conditions, whereas the pigs in this study showed lower aggression.…”

Section: The Presence Of Visitors Affects Vietnamese Pot-bellied Pig supporting

confidence: 73%

“…Some felids, for example, appear to show little or no behavioural response to visitors (Margulis et al, 2003, O'Donovan et al, 1993, whereas other studies report a visitor density influence on the behaviour of zoo-housed cats Chellam, 2002, Sellinger andHa, 2005). Ungulates have not been widely studied in this context, but sika deer (Cervus nippon; Shen-Jin et al, 2010) and Soemmerring's gazelle (Gazella soemmerringii; Mansour et al2000) both show increased alertness as visitor density increases, and higher levels of aggression have been found in gaur (Bos gaurus gaurus; Sekar et al, 2008) and blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra; Rajagopal et al, 2011) when visitor pressure is high.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The visitor effect in petting zoo-housed animals: Aversive or enriching?

Farrand

Hosey

Buchanan‐Smith

2014

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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Two studies were carried out on the effect of visitors on mixed-breed goats, llama, and Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs housed in a petting zoo display within a safari park. In the first study we investigated the effect of the presence and density of visitors on the animals' behaviour and in the second, the effect of animal grooming by the visitors. We hypothesised that the animals' behaviour would be negatively affected by presence of visitors compared to periods of their absence, but this hypothesis was not fully supported by the data. Goat and llama behaviour was unaffected by the presence of the public, while the pigs showed decreased inactivity and social behaviour, both affiliative and aggressive, when visitors were present.All three study species exhibited increased levels of non-aggressive interaction with the public when visitor density was higher but the level of avoidance or aggression towards visitors was not dependent on density. The goats were less often in physical contact with other goats and less likely to be within proximity of a non-conspecific when visitor numbers were high, whereas the pigs showed decreased feeding, a behaviour that constituted a majority of their activity budget. Species differences were observed in the proportion of samples the study groups interacted in a non-aggressive manner with visitors, goats being most likely and llama the least likely to engage in this behaviour. In the second study visitors were provided with a grooming tool and asked to groom the animals, but no significant behavioural change was observed in either goats or pigs as a result. Visitors groomed goats, but not pigs, more than they interacted with them in non-grooming interactions, and goats, but not pigs, responded less to grooming as visitor density increased.Although significant behavioural changes in all three study species were associated with either visitor presence or density, the low levels of avoidance of visitors, visitor-directed aggression, or animaldirected aggression, suggest the welfare of the study animals was not profoundly impacted by visitorrelated stimuli. Furthermore, there was no evidence that grooming by the public was enriching for the animals. The species differences reported here do suggest, however, that Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs and 3 llama are more sensitive to visitor pressure than goats and particular attention to their welfare may be necessary when they are housed in petting zoo displays.

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“…The literature on captive animals indicates that fear-provoking stimuli may lead to redirected behaviours such as aggression and abnormal behaviours (Mason, 1991;Olsson et al, 2011), behaviours that are likely associated with a range of negative emotions, such as frustration and anger (Broom and Johnson, 1993;Mellor, 2012;Van Loo et al, 2003). Interestingly, increases in intra-group aggression under high visitor numbers has been reported in a range of species including Indian gaur (Sekar et al, 2008), ring-tail lemurs (Chamove et al, 1988), Indian blackbuck (Rajagopal et al, 2011) and gorillas (Wells, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Previous studies on other species have demonstrated that visitors may compromise animal welfare in zoos (Davis et al, 2005;Hosey, 2013). For example, visitors have been associated with increased levels of aggression in Indian blackbuck (Rajagopal et al, 2011), decreased levels of affiliative behaviour in cotton-top tamarins (Chamove et al, 1988) and less time visible to the public in jaguars (Sellinger and Ha, 2005). However, we are unaware of any published studies that have investigated the impact of human presence on the welfare of penguins in zoos.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Little penguins, Eudyptula minor, show increased avoidance, aggression and vigilance in response to zoo visitors

Sherwen

Magrath

Butler

et al. 2015

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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Impact of Zoo Visitors on the Fecal Cortisol Levels and Behavior of an Endangered Species: Indian Blackbuck (Antelope cervicapra L.)

Cited by 49 publications

References 51 publications

The Effect of Fission–Fusion Zoo Housing on Hormonal and Behavioral Indicators of Stress in Bornean Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus)

The Effect of Fission–Fusion Zoo Housing on Hormonal and Behavioral Indicators of Stress in Bornean Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus)

The visitor effect in petting zoo-housed animals: Aversive or enriching?

Little penguins, Eudyptula minor, show increased avoidance, aggression and vigilance in response to zoo visitors

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