IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
| Quirke, T.; O'Riordan, R.M. | |
| The effect of a randomised enrichment treatment schedule on the behaviour of cheetahs (_Acinonyx jubatus_) | |
| 2011 Applied Animal Behaviour Science (135 ): 103-109 | |
A range of types of enrichment have been shown to enhance activity levels, reduce stereotypical behaviours and increase levels of natural behaviour, subsequently improving the welfare of many species of captive animals. However, it is important to utilise effective forms of enrichment in a manner which will sustain their future use. The continuous use of particular types of enrichment in a regular, predictable, schedule may negatively impact upon the efficacy of the enrichment over a period of time. The objective of the present study is to introduce temporal feeding variation, spatial feeding variation and olfactory enrichment to cheetahs on a completely randomised schedule, in order to reduce levels of pacing and to increase active and exploratory behaviours. This study was carried out on ten cheetahs at Fota Wildlife Park, Ireland. Eight baseline days with no enrichment, eight days of no data collection and eight days for each of the three types of enrichment were assigned. Behaviour data were collected on baseline and enrichment days during either 09:00-13:00 h or 13:00-17:00 h, using instantaneous scan sampling with a 5 min interval. A Friedmann ANOVA was used to analyse behaviour data. Overall, a significant increase in exploratory and other behaviours was observed along with a significant decrease in pacing behaviour. Between 09:00 and 13:00 h, exploratory, other and inactive behaviour were significantly affected. Between 13:00 and 17:00 h, other, inactive and pacing behaviour were significantly affected. The lowest level of pacing behaviour was observed during the temporal feeding variation days and the highest level of exploratory behaviour was observed during olfactory enrichment days. Highlighting times of day when abnormal and inactive behaviours are prevalent will be beneficial in order to determine how and when enrichment should be provisioned. The use of a randomised schedule of enrichment also provides a greater degree of novelty and does not allow the animals to habituate to any single form of enrichment. The authors would recommend the use of temporal feeding variation, spatial feeding variation and olfactory enrichment, introduced to cheetahs on a random schedule. |
|
 |
PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here |
(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |