scholarly journals Nature calls: intelligence and natural foraging style predict poor welfare in captive parrots

2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1960) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma L. Mellor ◽  
Heather K. McDonald Kinkaid ◽  
Michael T. Mendl ◽  
Innes C. Cuthill ◽  
Yvonne R. A. van Zeeland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Population Sizes ◽  
Stereotypic Behaviour ◽  
Parrot Species ◽  
Genetic Bottlenecks ◽  
Private Homes ◽  
Animal Care ◽  
Poor Welfare

Understanding why some species thrive in captivity, while others struggle to adjust, can suggest new ways to improve animal care. Approximately half of all Psittaciformes, a highly threatened order, live in zoos, breeding centres and private homes. Here, some species are prone to behavioural and reproductive problems that raise conservation and ethical concerns. To identify risk factors, we analysed data on hatching rates in breeding centres (115 species, 10 255 pairs) and stereotypic behaviour (SB) in private homes (50 species, 1378 individuals), using phylogenetic comparative methods (PCMs). Small captive population sizes predicted low hatch rates, potentially due to genetic bottlenecks, inbreeding and low availability of compatible mates. Species naturally reliant on diets requiring substantial handling were most prone to feather-damaging behaviours (e.g. self-plucking), indicating inadequacies in the composition or presentation of feed (often highly processed). Parrot species with relatively large brains were most prone to oral and whole-body SB: the first empirical evidence that intelligence can confer poor captive welfare. Together, results suggest that more naturalistic diets would improve welfare, and that intelligent psittacines need increased cognitive stimulation. These findings should help improve captive parrot care and inspire further PCM research to understand species differences in responses to captivity.

scholarly journals Characterizing abnormal behavior in a large population of zoo-housed chimpanzees: prevalence and potential influencing factors

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah L. Jacobson ◽  
Stephen R. Ross ◽  
Mollie A. Bloomsmith
Keyword(s):  
Large Population ◽  
The United States ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Abnormal Behavior ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Opposing Effects ◽  
Abnormal Behaviors ◽  
Animal Care ◽  
Recent Claim ◽  
Poor Welfare

Abnormal behaviors in captive animals are generally defined as behaviors that are atypical for the species and are often considered to be indicators of poor welfare. Although some abnormal behaviors have been empirically linked to conditions related to elevated stress and compromised welfare in primates, others have little or no evidence on which to base such a relationship. The objective of this study was to investigate a recent claim that abnormal behavior is endemic in the captive population by surveying a broad sample of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), while also considering factors associated with the origins of these behaviors. We surveyed animal care staff from 26 accredited zoos to assess the prevalence of abnormal behavior in a large sample of chimpanzees in the United States for which we had information on origin and rearing history. Our results demonstrated that 64% of this sample was reported to engage in some form of abnormal behavior in the past two years and 48% of chimpanzees engaged in abnormal behavior other than coprophagy. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the historical variables that best predicted the occurrence of all abnormal behavior, any abnormal behavior that was not coprophagy, and coprophagy. Rearing had opposing effects on the occurrence of coprophagy and the other abnormal behaviors such that mother-reared individuals were more likely to perform coprophagy, whereas non-mother-reared individuals were more likely to perform other abnormal behaviors. These results support the assertion that coprophagy may be classified separately when assessing abnormal behavior and the welfare of captive chimpanzees. This robust evaluation of the prevalence of abnormal behavior in our sample from the U.S. zoo population also demonstrates the importance of considering the contribution of historical variables to present behavior, in order to better understand the causes of these behaviors and any potential relationship to psychological wellbeing.

Modification of Stereotypic Behaviour in Captive Platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus).

1998 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 307
Author(s):  
D.L McDonald
Keyword(s):  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Normal Activity ◽  
Light Level ◽  
Housing Conditions ◽  
Circling Behaviour ◽  
Difficult Situation ◽  
Ornithorhynchus Anatinus ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Stereotypic Behaviour ◽  
Time Spent Feeding

Stereotypy is a characteristic occasionally observed in captive animals. This behaviour is regularly associated with animal housing conditions that deviate fundamentally from the species' natural environment. In addition to the detrimental affect it may have on the associated animal, it creates a difficult situation for the public in understanding the presentation of animals in captivity. In April 1996, modification to the platypus exhibit at Healesville Sanctuary resulted in an increased level of light being deflected onto the glass of the shallow tank exhibit. This change in the housing conditions coincided with repetitive circling behaviour by the female platypus and avoidance activity by the male platypus. In addition, the proportion of time spent feeding by the female platypus was reduced. Modification of the exhibit furniture did not significantly alter the female's behaviour. A reduction in the light level being deflected onto the tank resulted in an immediate reduction in the circling behaviour observed for the female. The male resumed free swimming and utilisation of the entire tank. Within two weeks all stereotypic behaviour had ceased and the two platypuses had resumed normal activity patterns.

scholarly journals Being Attractive Brings Advantages: The Case of Parrot Species in Captivity

PLoS ONE ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. e12568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Frynta ◽  
Silvie Lišková ◽  
Sebastian Bültmann ◽  
Hynek Burda
Keyword(s):  
In Captivity ◽  
Parrot Species

scholarly journals Culture of Lobotes surinamensis (Tripletail)

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Saillant ◽  
Jason Lemus ◽  
James Franks
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Coast ◽  
Early Life History ◽  
Marine Aquaculture ◽  
University Of Southern Mississippi ◽  
Potential Development ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
The University ◽  
Animal Care

The Tripletail, Lobotes surinamensis, is a pelagic fish found in tropical and sub-tropical waters of all oceans. Tripletails are often associated with floating debris and make frequent incursions in bays and estuaries where they are targeted by recreational fishermen. In Mississippi waters the species is typically present during the late spring and summer season that also correspond to the period of sexual maturation and spawning (Brown-Peterson and Franks 2001). Tripletail is appreciated as a gamefish but is also prized for its flesh of superior quality. The fast growth rate of juveniles in captivity documented by Franks et al. (2001) and the excellent quality of Tripletail flesh both contribute to the potential of this species for marine aquaculture. In addition, the production of cultured juveniles would be precious to develop a better understanding of the biology, early life history and habitat use of Tripletail larvae and juveniles, a topic largely undocumented to date, through experimental releases and controlled studies. The culture of tripletail thus supports the Tidelands Trust Fund Program through improved conservation of natural resources, potential enhancement of fisheries productivity and potential development of a new economic activity on the Gulf coast producing tripletail via aquaculture. The Objective of this project was to initiate development of methods and techniques needed to spawn captive held tripletail broodfish and raise their offspring to evaluate their growth and development in captivity. In this report we will present the results of studies aiming to develop methods and protocols for captive spawning of tripletail and the first data obtained on the early development of tripletail larvae. A major issue that was encountered with tripletail broodstock development during the project lied in the difficulties associated with identifying the sex of adults caught in the wild and candidates for being incorporated in mating sets for spawning. This issue was addressed during the course of the project by examining the potential of a non-lethal method of hormonal sexing. The results of these preliminary investigations are presented in the third part of this report. All protocols used in the project were determined with the guidance of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of the University of Southern Mississippi (USM IACUC protocol number 10100108).

The effect of a neighbouring conspecific versus the use of a mirror for the control of stereotypic weaving behaviour in the stabled horse

2002 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.S. Mills ◽  
K. Davenport
Keyword(s):  
Visual Image ◽  
Side Window ◽  
Late Afternoon ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Stereotypic Behaviour ◽  
Repetitive Activities ◽  
Head Neck ◽  
Poor Welfare ◽  
Observation Period

AbstractWeaving behaviour involves the repetitive lateral swaying of the head, neck, forequarters and sometimes hindquarters of the horse and is generally believed to be indicative of poor welfare. The behaviour of six known weavers was recorded three times a day for 5 days in each of three different stable designs. These were a conventional loose-box, a conventional loose-box with a 1 m2 acrylic mirror and a conventional loose-box in which there was a grilled 1 m2 side window separating the resident horse from a non-weaving conspecific in an adjacent stable. Weaving and other stereotypic behaviours were significantly higher in the unmodified stable and during the late afternoon observation period. There was no significant difference in the amount of stereotypic behaviour recorded in the two modified stables. Significant differences in the behaviour patterns and location of horses during the study suggest that activity engaging with either a visual image of a horse or a hay net is associated with a reduction in weaving and other repetitive activities in the stabled horse.

scholarly journals High Prevalence of Novel Beak and Feather Disease Virus in Sympatric Invasive Parakeets Introduced to Spain From Asia and South America

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 192
Author(s):  
Francisco Morinha ◽  
Martina Carrete ◽  
José L. Tella ◽  
Guillermo Blanco
Keyword(s):  
Disease Virus ◽  
Wild Populations ◽  
Disease Symptoms ◽  
Myiopsitta Monachus ◽  
Psittacula Krameri ◽  
Captive Populations ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Parrot Species ◽  
Feather Disease Virus

The psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) is a globally widespread infectious bird disease that mainly affects species within the Order Psittaciformes (parrots and allies). The disease is caused by an avian circovirus (the beak and feather disease virus, BFDV), which is highly infectious and can lead to severe consequences in wild and captive populations during an outbreak. Both legal and illegal trading have spread the BFDV around the world, although little is known about its prevalence in invasive parrot populations. Here, we analyze the BFDV prevalence in sympatric invasive populations of rose-ringed (Psittacula krameri) and monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) in Southern Spain. We PCR-screened 110 blood samples (55 individuals from each species) for BFDV and characterized the genotypes of five positives from each species. About 33% of rose-ringed parakeets and 37% of monk parakeets sampled were positive for BFDV, while neither species showed disease symptoms. The circovirus identified is a novel BFDV genotype common to both species, similar to the BFDV genotypes detected in several parrot species kept in captivity in Saudi Arabia, South Africa and China. Our data evidences the importance of an accurate evaluation of avian diseases in wild populations, since invasive parrots may be bringing BFDV without showing any visually detectable clinical sign. Further research on the BFDV prevalence and transmission (individual–individual, captive–wild and wild–captive) in different bird orders and countries is crucial to understand the dynamics of the viral infection and minimize its impact in captive and wild populations.

Psychological Science Applied to Improve Captive Animal Care: A Model for Development of a Systematic, Evidence-Based Assessment Of Environmental Enrichment for Nonhuman Primates

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allyson J. Bennett ◽  
Jeremy D. Bailoo ◽  
Mackenzie Dutton ◽  
George F. Michel ◽  
Peter J. Pierre
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Nonhuman Primates ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
The Us ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
Animal Care

Nonhuman primates (NHP) are housed in captivity for a variety of purposes. In the US the housing and care for the majority of primates fall under federal regulation with additional guidelines and means of evaluation provided by various accreditation organizations. There is a gap, however, between the policy, common practices, and the findings of a large empirical literature on the effectiveness of care strategies aimed at ensuring the animals’ psychological wellbeing. Uniform assessment tools to guide decisions about selection and refinement of standards and practices are largely missing. In two consecutive publications, we propose a novel approach to evaluation and refinement of environmental enrichment (EE) programs that: 1) is based on empirical evidence; 2) permits flexibility to balance facility goals (or purpose) with consideration of animal wellbeing; 3) provides a systematic framework for assessment; and 4) identifies priority areas for hypothesis-driven research. We focus on one area of EE that is relatively neglected with respect to consistency in practice and detail in standards yet is well-supported both theoretically and empirically. The non-social, non-structural EE domain includes practices that promote sensory, manipulative (motor), and cognitive (SMC) engagement which often are less constrained by space, geography, resources, and any conflicts with the facilities’ varying purposes. This first paper provides the theoretical background for our proposed EE evaluation technique; whereas, the second describes the technique in detail. The systematic approach to categorization and assessment of the relevant components of facilities’ federally-required NHP EE plans (EEP) proposed here can readily accommodate new evidence and is adaptable for different species and facility types. In turn, the approach can assist consideration of refinement, changes in EE, and development of best practices that transcend facility type.

scholarly journals Aquaculture and Fish Welfare: Are the Rights of Fish Compromised?/ Akwakultura I Dobrostan Ryb: Czy Prawa Ryb Są Szanowane?

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 49-68
Author(s):  
Moshood K. Mustapha
Keyword(s):  
Stocking Density ◽  
Environmental Indicators ◽  
Farmed Fish ◽  
Fish Welfare ◽  
Dark Light ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Feeding Regimes ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Five Freedoms ◽  
Poor Welfare

Abstract Fish need adequate welfare in culture even more than when they are in the wild. This is because they are held in captivity against their ‘will’. The welfare of farmed fish should start from production to consumption. Several factors have been identified as compromising the rights and welfare of fish in aquaculture. These include the aquacultural holding devices, stocking density, water quality, food and feeding regimes, diseases and parasite infestation, treatment of the diseases and parasites, handling, netting and removal before and during slaughter, methods of slaughter, fasting/ food withdrawal, unnatural dark/light photoperiods, selection for fast growth, selective and induced breeding, genetic manipulations, exposure to predators, polyculture, tagging, crowding, grading, transport and harvesting, fish attractors and accidental or deliberate introduction of genetically modified farmed fish. The best way to achieve good welfare and health of fish in aquaculture is to respect, maintain and improve the rights of fish, otherwise known as the “five freedoms.” Lack, deficiency or difficulty in having or providing any one of the five freedoms in aquaculture is an indicator of poor welfare for the fish which could be observed through physical, physiological, morphological, behavioural or environmental indicators in the fish. The best strategy for a reliable assessment of fish welfare/suffering and their impact on product quality is a multidisciplinary approach using several assessment parameters and comparing the deviations from the normal biological state with those from the wild which live in their natural, unperturbed environment. Some of the ways to achieve good welfare and safeguard the rights of the farmed fish in reducing the welfare problems were highlighted. Welfare of farmed fish should be considered in terms of ethics, productivity, economic viability and consumer’s acceptability of the final product. Consumers are becoming aware of the quality of farmed fish arising from poor welfare of the fish during culture. Improvement in fish welfare will increase profits, productivity and acceptability of the farmed fish because fish that are less stressedand humanely slaugh tered are healthier, grow better and have better meat quality. There is the need to develop common standard welfare indices for fish in culture in order to detect, correct and improve any deviation from the normal state of the fish in their aquacultural holding devices (AHD). It should be known that whatever is good in terms of welfare to humans should also be good to the fish in captivity.

scholarly journals The skin microbiome of Xenopus laevis and the effects of husbandry conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maya Z. Piccinni ◽  
Joy E. M. Watts ◽  
Marie Fourny ◽  
Matt Guille ◽  
Samuel C. Robson
Keyword(s):  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Strong Evidence ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Skin Microbiome ◽  
Treatment Conditions ◽  
The World ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Research Centres ◽  
Poor Welfare

Abstract Background Historically the main source of laboratory Xenopus laevis was the environment. The increase in genetically altered animals and evolving governmental constraints around using wild-caught animals for research has led to the establishment of resource centres that supply animals and reagents worldwide, such as the European Xenopus Resource Centre. In the last decade, centres were encouraged to keep animals in a “low microbial load” or “clean” state, where embryos are surface sterilized before entering the housing system; instead of the conventional, “standard” conditions where frogs and embryos are kept without prior surface treatment. Despite Xenopus laevis having been kept in captivity for almost a century, surprisingly little is known about the frogs as a holobiont and how changing the microbiome may affect resistance to disease. This study examines how the different treatment conditions, “clean” and “standard” husbandry in recirculating housing, affects the skin microbiome of tadpoles and female adults. This is particularly important when considering the potential for poor welfare caused by a change in husbandry method as animals move from resource centres to smaller research colonies. Results We found strong evidence for developmental control of the surface microbiome on Xenopus laevis; adults had extremely similar microbial communities independent of their housing, while both tadpole and environmental microbiome communities were less resilient and showed greater diversity. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the adult Xenopus laevis microbiome is controlled and selected by the host. This indicates that the surface microbiome of adult Xenopus laevis is stable and defined independently of the environment in which it is housed, suggesting that the use of clean husbandry conditions poses little risk to the skin microbiome when transferring adult frogs to research laboratories. This will have important implications for frog health applicable to Xenopus laevis research centres throughout the world.

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