behaviour changes of captive large mammals

8/7/2019 Behaviour Changes of Captive Large Mammals

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Behaviour Changes of CaptiveLarge Mammals


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Zoo are great places to go and see animal diversitywith out leaving to far from your home.

Animals need to adapt to their captive life styles


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Circadian rhythmTime Seeking System in brain

Controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the mammalian hypothalamus.

disturbances of the normal circadian rhythmicity

can result in serious health consequences.


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Three aspects zoos are unable to Mimic:

-Migration

-Predation

-Social Interactions


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Migratory mammals

In zoos the environment is alwaysnutrient rich due to daily feedings.

Is there something wrongwith that?

Family: Cervidae


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In the wild caribou (Rangifer tarandus) areable to trek miles (~1500-3000km) and they

do this to be able to find nutrient richenvironments.


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In captivity, caribou have only 3 acres

(Shebinacakdie zoo) to deal with theirnatural instinct.

This makes them

become fat,unhealthy andbecome susceptiblefor disease due totheir body s lack of adaptations to sucha change, however,Rangifer tarandus: Caribou


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The life span for caribouhas increased from anaverage wild life span of 5-10 years to an average of 14-15 years in captivity.

Therefore caribou are onemammal that benefit fromcaptive life styles (when in

proper settings) by beingable to adapt to stressfulenclosed placements


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E lephants are an example that show a large

decrease in their life span in captivity.Wild elephants 60-70 year life span.Captive elephants no more than 40 years

(Canadian zoos).


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H unting in the wild

Cost effective

Time consuming

Sometimes inconsistent (prey availability)

Family: Felidae


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Feeding in Captivity

Food given by:Food dish s

Thrown to mimichuntingH idden

Giving at set times.Why is this not good?


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Prey seeking mammals are instinctively trained

at Young age to playfight.

Also, many cats hunt fun.Think of common housecat


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Bears eagerly waiting for theirmeal 2-4hours for set feedingtime

Family: Ursidae


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Social Interactions

Social behaviours change drastically betweenwild and captive mammals, when in captivitythey often face:DepressionAggression

Abnormal behaviour.


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Depression often results in the animalbecoming lazy, non-active, and will eventuallyresist food.

Ex: elephants, sharks, Dolphins

life span of a dolphin:-Wild: 45 years-Captivity: 2-5 years

Family: Delphinidae


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The animal becomes:

-Anxious-Bored-Which leadsto aggression insome species.

Family: Cercopithecidae


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O verall, there are good and bad to zoos, but it isclear that animals need to show significantadaptions and behavioural changed to sustainlife in captivity.


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ReferencesArtic National Wildlife Refugee (2010) Retrieved February 25 th from http://arctic.fws.gov/Blackshaw, J. (2003). Wild Animals in Captivity. Queens Island, Australia. MA Ed WashConsorte-McCrea, G, A. (1994) The Maned Wolf in Captivity. Canid News, Vol. 2. Retrievedfrom http://www.canids.org/PUBLICAT/CNDN EWS2/manedwlf.htmDugatkin, A. (2009) Principles of Animal Behaviour (Second Edition). New York. NortonPublishing.Feldhamer, G. Drickamer, L. Vessey, S. Merritt, J. (2004). Mammalogy, Adaptation DiversityEcology (Second Edition) McGraw H ill.

Kiiru, W. (2007) The Sad State of Captive E lephants in Canada. Retrieved fromhttp://www.zoocheck.com/Reportpdfs/Sad%20State%20Report(R EV).pdf Kleiman, D. Thompson, K. Baer, C. (2010). Wild Mammals in Captivity ( Edition 2). TheUniversity of ChicagoLaidlaw, R. (2001). Reintroduction of captive-bred animals to the wild: Is the modern arkafloat? The Alpha Press. Retrieved from

http://www.zoocheck.com/articlepdfs/Reintroduction%20of%20Captive-bred%20Animals.pdf Ley, Nena. (2006) Detrimental Effects of Captivity. Retrieved fromhttp://www.tscwa.org/research/stereobears.pdf Maier, R. (1998) Comparative Animal Behaviour, An Evolutionary and Ecological Approach.Needham H eights. Allyn & Becon.Shubenacadie Wildlife Park Website, Retrieved on February 27 th fromhttp://wildlifepark.gov.ns.ca/park/parkMap/2010-Map.pdf


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behaviour changes of captive large mammals

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