Behavioural Study of Captive Sloth Bears Using Environmental Enrichment Tools
Joint Authors
Jayathangaraj, M. G.
Perumal, P.
Veeraselvam, M.
Sridhar, R.
Source
International Journal of Zoology
Issue
Vol. 2013, Issue 2013 (31 Dec. 2013), pp.1-6, 6 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2013-12-19
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
6
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Effects of environmental enrichment on behavioural changes were studied in five captive sloth bears kept in confined enclosure at Zoological Park, Chennai, India.
Behavioural categories like active, passive, and abnormal behaviours were taken for the study.
The activity budget was recorded as a single animal scan.
The detailed baseline data of 150 hours, over a period of 30 days, were collected.
At baseline, bears exhibited passive and more abnormal behaviours.
Similarly, after application of the environmental tools like honey-log, underground food pipes, and wobbling box in the enclosure, the data were collected for 150 hours (30 days).
Increased active behaviours and decreased abnormal behaviours were observed and showed highly significant changes in the abnormal behaviour as a whole when compared to the baseline level.
During the postenrichment period, the data that were collected for 150 hours (30 days) showed no significant differences statistically between the behavioural categories.
But certain level of difference was evident from the percentage of abnormal behaviours exhibited by individual bears.
Among the enrichment devices, honey-log was the most preferred enrichment tool as revealed by the percentage of time spent by individual animal.
The results show that application of enrichment tool continuously may bring long term effect in stereotypic behaviour.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Veeraselvam, M.& Sridhar, R.& Jayathangaraj, M. G.& Perumal, P.. 2013. Behavioural Study of Captive Sloth Bears Using Environmental Enrichment Tools. International Journal of Zoology،Vol. 2013, no. 2013, pp.1-6.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-478737
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Veeraselvam, M.…[et al.]. Behavioural Study of Captive Sloth Bears Using Environmental Enrichment Tools. International Journal of Zoology No. 2013 (2013), pp.1-6.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-478737
American Medical Association (AMA)
Veeraselvam, M.& Sridhar, R.& Jayathangaraj, M. G.& Perumal, P.. Behavioural Study of Captive Sloth Bears Using Environmental Enrichment Tools. International Journal of Zoology. 2013. Vol. 2013, no. 2013, pp.1-6.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-478737
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-478737