Effects of environmental enrichment techniques on stereotypical behaviours of captive Sumatran tigers: A preliminary case study

Diana Gomes; Lynda McSweeney; Mário Santos

doi:10.31893/2318-1265jabb.v7n4p144-148

Keywords:

animal welfare

Panthera tigris sumatrae

stress

Zoo

Abstract

Wild animals are maintained in Zoological facilities for purposes of education, conservation, research, and recreation. Several studies have proven that the surroundings of an animal’s artificial habitat, as well as environmental enrichment techniques, are factors that influence behaviour and have an impact on animals’ welfare. In the present work carried out at Fota Wildlife Park, Cork, Republic of Ireland, we observed and collected information concerning three Sumatran Tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae). The research achievements, registered on an ethogram, seem to demonstrate a link between the enclosure features and the environmental enrichment techniques applied with the stereotypical behaviours directly observed. In fact, the obtained results show that the characteristics of the enclosures were a determining factor on the tiger’s behaviour. The obtained results also depict and highlight the extreme relevance of individual ethos when choosing the environmental enrichment techniques applied in order to reduce stereotypical behaviours observed in the captive tigers.
References
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2. Hoy JM, Murray PJ, Tribe A (2009) Thirty years later: Enrichment practices for captive mammals. Zoo Biology. doi: 10.1002/zoo.20254
3. Linkie M, Wibisono HT, Martyr DJ, Sunarto S (2008) Panthera tigris Linkie M, Wibisono HT, Martyr DJ, Sunarto S (2008) Panthera tigris ssp. sumatrae. The IUCN red list of threatened species. Accessed on: May 28, 2017
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6. Pitsko LE (2003) Wild Tigers in Captivity: A Study of the Effects of the Captive Environment on Tiger Behavior. Dissertation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University of Blacksburg.
7. Pizzutto CS, Sgai MGFG, Guimarães MABV (2009) O enriquecimento ambiental como ferramenta para melhorar a reprodução e o bem- estar de animais cativos. Revista Brasileira de Reprodução Animal 33:129-138.
8. Roesch H (2003) Olfactory environmental enrichment of felids and the potential uses of conspecific odours. Dissertation, Massey University of Palmerston North New Zealand.
9. Shepherd CR, Magnus N (2004) Nowhere to hide: the trade in sumatran tiger. TRAFFIC Southesat Asia, pp 1-212.
10. Silva SMAD (2004) Influência do enriquecimento ambiental no comportamento de tigres (Phanthera tigris) em cativeiro. Dissertation, Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada of Lisbon.
11. Skibiel AL, Trevino HS, Naugher K (2007) Comparison of Several Types of Enrichment for Captive Felids. Zoo Biology, 26:371-381.
12. Sokal RR, Rohlf FJ (2012) Biometry: the principles and practice pf statistics in biological research. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A. doi: 10.2307/2343822
13. Swaisgood RR, Shepherdson DJ (2005) Scientific approaches to enrichment and stereotypies in zoo animals: What’s been done and where should we go next?. Zoo Biology, 24:499-518.
14. Veasey JS, Waran NK, Young RJ (1996) On comparing the behaviour of zoo housed animals with wild cConspecifics as a welfare indicator. Animal Welfare, 5:13-24.
15. Walzer C (1997) From rilke to enrichment: Strategies for felids at the Salzburg zoo. Verh ber Erkrg Zootiere, 38.
16. Wibisono HT, Pusparini W (2010) Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae): A review of conservation status. Integrative Zoology. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-4877.2010.00219.x

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to cite

Gomes, D., McSweeney, L., & Santos, M. (2019). Effects of environmental enrichment techniques on stereotypical behaviours of captive Sumatran tigers: A preliminary case study. Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology, 7(4), 144–148. https://doi.org/10.31893/2318-1265jabb.v7n4p144-148

[1] Dehnhard M, Naidenko S, Frank A, Braun B, Goritz F, Jewgenow K (2008) Non-Invasive monitoring of hormones : A tool to improve reproduction in captive breeding of the eurasian lynx. Hormone monitoring in breeding programmes of mammals. Reproduction in domestic animals. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01145.x.

[2] Hoy JM, Murray PJ, Tribe A (2009) Thirty years later: Enrichment practices for captive mammals. Zoo Biology. doi: 10.1002/zoo.20254

[3] Linkie M, Wibisono HT, Martyr DJ, Sunarto S (2008) Panthera tigris Linkie M, Wibisono HT, Martyr DJ, Sunarto S (2008) Panthera tigris ssp. sumatrae. The IUCN red list of threatened species. Accessed on: May 28, 2017

[4] Lyons J, Young RJ, Deag JM (1997) The effects of physical characteristics of the environment and feeding regime on the behavior of captive felids. Zoo Biology 16:71-83.

[5] Morgan KN, Tromborg CT (2007) Sources of stress in captivity. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2006.05.032.

[6] Pitsko LE (2003) Wild Tigers in Captivity: A Study of the Effects of the Captive Environment on Tiger Behavior. Dissertation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University of Blacksburg.

[7] Pizzutto CS, Sgai MGFG, Guimarães MABV (2009) O enriquecimento ambiental como ferramenta para melhorar a reprodução e o bem- estar de animais cativos. Revista Brasileira de Reprodução Animal 33:129-138.

[8] Roesch H (2003) Olfactory environmental enrichment of felids and the potential uses of conspecific odours. Dissertation, Massey University of Palmerston North New Zealand.

[9] Shepherd CR, Magnus N (2004) Nowhere to hide: the trade in sumatran tiger. TRAFFIC Southesat Asia, pp 1-212.

[10] Silva SMAD (2004) Influência do enriquecimento ambiental no comportamento de tigres (Phanthera tigris) em cativeiro. Dissertation, Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada of Lisbon.

[11] Skibiel AL, Trevino HS, Naugher K (2007) Comparison of Several Types of Enrichment for Captive Felids. Zoo Biology, 26:371-381.

[12] Sokal RR, Rohlf FJ (2012) Biometry: the principles and practice pf statistics in biological research. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A. doi: 10.2307/2343822

[13] Swaisgood RR, Shepherdson DJ (2005) Scientific approaches to enrichment and stereotypies in zoo animals: What’s been done and where should we go next?. Zoo Biology, 24:499-518.

[14] Veasey JS, Waran NK, Young RJ (1996) On comparing the behaviour of zoo housed animals with wild cConspecifics as a welfare indicator. Animal Welfare, 5:13-24.

[15] Walzer C (1997) From rilke to enrichment: Strategies for felids at the Salzburg zoo. Verh ber Erkrg Zootiere, 38.

[16] Wibisono HT, Pusparini W (2010) Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae): A review of conservation status. Integrative Zoology. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-4877.2010.00219.x

Abstract

References

How to cite