The Effect of Visitors on Zoo Reptile Behaviour during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Visitors to zoos can have positive, neutral, or negative relationships with zoo animals. This makes human–animal interactions (HAIs) an essential component of welfare and an important consideration in species selection for zoo exhibits and in enclosure designs. We measured the effect of visitors on reptiles by comparing open and closed periods during the lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK in a low-resolution dataset for thirteen species of reptiles and a high-resolution dataset focussing on just one of these. Scan sampling on thirteen reptile species (two chelonians and eleven squamates) showed species-specific differences in response to the presence/absence of visitors, with most taxa being only weakly affected. High-resolution scan sampling via video footage of an off-show and on-show enclosure was carried out for tokay geckos (Gekko gecko) over the open and closed periods. In this part of the study, tokay geckos were significantly more visible during zoo closure than when visitors were present on-exhibit, but there was no change in off-show animals, indicating the effect of visitors as opposed to other factors, such as seasonality, which applied equally to both on- and off-show animals. The high-resolution study showed that a significant effect was present for tokay geckos, even though the low-resolution suggested that they were more weakly affected than other taxa. Our results indicate that, for cryptic species such as this, more intensive sampling may be required to properly understand visitor effects. Our data do not allow the interpretation of effects on welfare but show that such assessments require a species-specific approach.

First evidence towards chemical self-recognition in a gecko

Self-recognition is the ability to recognise stimuli originating from oneself. Humans and most great apes show evidence of true self-recognition in the mirror test. They use their reflection to remove a mark that is only visible in the mirror. Not all animals, however, rely primarily on vision. In lizards, chemical cues are important in social interactions. A number of lizard species show chemical self-recognition but it has never been investigated in a gecko species. Here, we test the tokay gecko (Gekko gecko) a territorial species with parental care on their ability to discriminate their own skin and faecal chemicals from those of same-sex, unfamiliar conspecifics. Geckos show a higher response rate towards chemicals from unfamiliar individuals compared to self-produced chemicals and a water control. Lizards showed self-directed behaviour, responded stronger to skin chemicals and females responded more than males. Our study provides first evidence towards self-recognition and for a social function of chemical present on faeces in tokay geckos but further tests are needed to confirm true self-recognition. Tokay geckos are an excellent model species to investigate individual recognition to demonstrate more sophisticated social cognitive abilities than have previously been attributed to reptiles.

KEANEKARAGAMAN HERPETOFAUNA DIURNAL DI KAWASAN TAMAN NASIONAL GUNUNG MERBABU (Diversity of Diurnal Herpetofauna in Gunung Merbabu National Park)

The diversity of diurnal herpetofauna has an essential role in the ecosystem and is used as an indicator of environmental quality. This study aimed to determine the diversity of herpetofauna species in the southeast slope of the Gunung Merbabu National Park (GMbNP), which is in Ampel Sub-District, Boyolali District, Central Java. The method used in this study was Visual Encounter Survey (VES) in the transect determined purposively around the river, which can become a herpetofauna habitat. Data were collected in the morning session (08.00-14.00 WIB) for six times. This research found 16 species of herpetofauna, as follows: Ahaetulla prasina, Bronchocela jubata, Chalcorana chalconota, Cyrtodactylus marmoratus, Dendrelaphis pictus, Eutropis multifasciata, Gekko gecko, Gonocephalus chamaeleontinus, Leptobrachium hasselti, Megophrys montana, Odorrana hosii, Polypedates leucomystax, Pseudocalotes tympanistriga, Ptyas korros, Python reticulatus, dan Trimeresurus albolabris. The calculation of the level of diversity with the Shannon-Weiner Index showed a value of 2.772 which can be interpreted to have a moderate level of diversity. It implies that the environmental condition of GMbNP is good enough to support herpetofauna species sustainability. Abstrak Keanekaragaman herpetofauna mempunyai peranan dalam ekosistem dan digunakan sebagai salah satu parameter kualitas lingkungan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui keanekaragaman spesies herpetofauna di lereng tenggara kawasan Taman Nasional Gunung Merbabu (TNGMb), yang secara administratif termasuk Kecamatan Ampel, Kabupaten Boyolali, Jawa Tengah. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah Visual Encounter Survey (VES) pada transek yang ditentukan secara purposive di sekitar sungai dan berpotensi menjadi habitat herpetofauna. Pengambilan data dilakukan pada siang hari (pukul 08.00-14.00 WIB) sebanyak enam kali. Hasil penelitian didapatkan 16 spesies herpetofauna, yaitu: Ahaetulla prasina, Bronchocela jubata, Chalcorana chalconota, Cyrtodactylus marmoratus, Dendrelaphis pictus, Eutropis multifasciata, Gekko gecko, Gonocephalus chamaeleontinus, Leptobrachium hasselti, Megophrys montana, Odorrana hosii, Polypedates leucomystax, Pseudocalotes tympanistriga, Ptyas korros, Python reticulatus, dan Trimeresurus albolabris. Hasil analisis keanekaragaman indeks keanekaragaman Shannon-Weiner menunjukkan nilai 2,772 yang dapat ditafsirkan memiliki tingkat keanekaragaman sedang. Hal ini mengimplikasikan bahwa kondisi lingkungan TNGMb masih cukup baik dalam mendukung kelestarian herpetofauna.