Effects of food-based enrichment on enclosure use and behavioral patterns in captive mammalian predators: a case study from an Austrian wildlife park
Background Combining naturalistic enclosure design and animal welfare with visitor interests and education can be challenging for zoos and wildlife parks. To accomplish both purposes, different types of enrichment (food-based or non-food-based items, such as environmental, sensory, cognitive, social...
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PeerJ Inc.
2023-10-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/16091.pdf |
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| author | Verena Puehringer-Sturmayr Monika Fiby Stephanie Bachmann Stefanie Filz Isabella Grassmann Theresa Hoi Claudia Janiczek Didone Frigerio |
| author_facet | Verena Puehringer-Sturmayr Monika Fiby Stephanie Bachmann Stefanie Filz Isabella Grassmann Theresa Hoi Claudia Janiczek Didone Frigerio |
| author_sort | Verena Puehringer-Sturmayr |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Combining naturalistic enclosure design and animal welfare with visitor interests and education can be challenging for zoos and wildlife parks. To accomplish both purposes, different types of enrichment (food-based or non-food-based items, such as environmental, sensory, cognitive, social) can be used. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of food-based and olfactory enrichments on enclosure use, behavior, and visibility of captive brown bears (Ursus arctos), pine martens (Martes martes), domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo), and golden jackals (Canis aureus). Methods We used observational approaches to measure enclosure use, behavior, and visibility during three different experimental phases: (1) pre-enrichment (baseline, no experience with the enrichment yet), (2) during enrichment (enrichment was provided at low frequented locations in the enclosures that are easily visible to visitors), and (3) post-enrichment (enrichment was removed from the enclosures). Results We found that enrichment led to a uniform use of the enclosure and enhanced visibility in brown bears, increased activity budgets in pine martens, and observed high object interaction in both species. No effects of enrichment were detected in domestic ferrets. Golden jackals did not leave their burrows during daytime during the entire observation period; thus, observations were not possible at all. Our results suggest different effects of food-based enrichment, e.g., enclosure use, temporal activity patterns, and animal visibility. However, further studies should control for the specific role of the factors involved. Our study represents one of the first explorations of food-based enrichment in rather understudied species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:42:09Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:42:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
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| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-4249a8b87dd14849958172e032454de22023-12-03T10:46:44ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592023-10-0111e1609110.7717/peerj.16091Effects of food-based enrichment on enclosure use and behavioral patterns in captive mammalian predators: a case study from an Austrian wildlife parkVerena Puehringer-Sturmayr0Monika Fiby1Stephanie Bachmann2Stefanie Filz3Isabella Grassmann4Theresa Hoi5Claudia Janiczek6Didone Frigerio7Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaZoo Design and Consulting, Vienna, AustriaKonrad Lorenz Research Center for Behavior and Cognition, University of Vienna, Gruenau im Almtal, AustriaKonrad Lorenz Research Center for Behavior and Cognition, University of Vienna, Gruenau im Almtal, AustriaKonrad Lorenz Research Center for Behavior and Cognition, University of Vienna, Gruenau im Almtal, AustriaKonrad Lorenz Research Center for Behavior and Cognition, University of Vienna, Gruenau im Almtal, AustriaKonrad Lorenz Research Center for Behavior and Cognition, University of Vienna, Gruenau im Almtal, AustriaDepartment of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaBackground Combining naturalistic enclosure design and animal welfare with visitor interests and education can be challenging for zoos and wildlife parks. To accomplish both purposes, different types of enrichment (food-based or non-food-based items, such as environmental, sensory, cognitive, social) can be used. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of food-based and olfactory enrichments on enclosure use, behavior, and visibility of captive brown bears (Ursus arctos), pine martens (Martes martes), domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo), and golden jackals (Canis aureus). Methods We used observational approaches to measure enclosure use, behavior, and visibility during three different experimental phases: (1) pre-enrichment (baseline, no experience with the enrichment yet), (2) during enrichment (enrichment was provided at low frequented locations in the enclosures that are easily visible to visitors), and (3) post-enrichment (enrichment was removed from the enclosures). Results We found that enrichment led to a uniform use of the enclosure and enhanced visibility in brown bears, increased activity budgets in pine martens, and observed high object interaction in both species. No effects of enrichment were detected in domestic ferrets. Golden jackals did not leave their burrows during daytime during the entire observation period; thus, observations were not possible at all. Our results suggest different effects of food-based enrichment, e.g., enclosure use, temporal activity patterns, and animal visibility. However, further studies should control for the specific role of the factors involved. Our study represents one of the first explorations of food-based enrichment in rather understudied species.https://peerj.com/articles/16091.pdfAnimal visibilityBrown bearDomestic ferretPine martenAnimal welfareAnimal behavior |
| spellingShingle | Verena Puehringer-Sturmayr Monika Fiby Stephanie Bachmann Stefanie Filz Isabella Grassmann Theresa Hoi Claudia Janiczek Didone Frigerio Effects of food-based enrichment on enclosure use and behavioral patterns in captive mammalian predators: a case study from an Austrian wildlife park PeerJ Animal visibility Brown bear Domestic ferret Pine marten Animal welfare Animal behavior |
| title | Effects of food-based enrichment on enclosure use and behavioral patterns in captive mammalian predators: a case study from an Austrian wildlife park |
| title_full | Effects of food-based enrichment on enclosure use and behavioral patterns in captive mammalian predators: a case study from an Austrian wildlife park |
| title_fullStr | Effects of food-based enrichment on enclosure use and behavioral patterns in captive mammalian predators: a case study from an Austrian wildlife park |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of food-based enrichment on enclosure use and behavioral patterns in captive mammalian predators: a case study from an Austrian wildlife park |
| title_short | Effects of food-based enrichment on enclosure use and behavioral patterns in captive mammalian predators: a case study from an Austrian wildlife park |
| title_sort | effects of food based enrichment on enclosure use and behavioral patterns in captive mammalian predators a case study from an austrian wildlife park |
| topic | Animal visibility Brown bear Domestic ferret Pine marten Animal welfare Animal behavior |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/16091.pdf |
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