Title
Environmental enrichment pilot program for jaguar (Panthera onca) in the Municipal Zoo Vesty Pakos Sofro, La Paz, Bolivia / Programa Piloto de enriquecimiento ambiental para jaguar (Panthera onca) en el Zoologico Municipal Vesty Pakos Sofro, La Paz, Bolivia
Author(s)
Maria Estela Viscarra; Guido Ayala; Raquel Galeon
Published
2010
Publisher
Revista Boliviana de Ecología y Conservación Ambiental
Abstract
Wild animals confined in zoos that lack minimum requirements or environmental enrichment, display abnormal behaviors such as aggression and stereotypic repetitive patterns. We implemented and evaluated a pilot program for environmental enrichment for jaguars (Panthera onca) at the Vesty Pakos Sofro Municipal Zoo. Six jaguars in four settings were evaluated. Ethograms were generated, recording the frequency of different behaviors before and during the enrichment implementation. Twelve enrichments, four olfactory, four food, and four distraction or game types, were tested in each setting. Enrichments were selected according to implementation feasibility, considering material costs and availability at the zoo, time, and implementation effort. We recorded 66.7% of abnormal and stereotyped behaviors before enrichment implementation and 6% after implementation. Jaguars reacted positively to all enrichments. Food type enrichments were the most effective, followed by games, and olfactory types. The implementation of environmental enrichment was very successful and jaguars reduced abnormal behavior by engaging in activities that kept them physically and mentally engaged. We suggest implementing the program in other zoos and rescue centers to improve jaguar's health through improving their quality of life and to educate visitors. / Wild animals confined in zoos without minimum requirements of environment and environmental enrichment, present abnormal behaviors, such as aggression and stereotypies. The main objective of the study was to propose, implement and evaluate a pilot program of environmental enrichment for jaguars (Panthera onca) at the Vesty Pakos Sofro Municipal Zoo. Six jaguars distributed in four environments were evaluated. Ethograms were generated by recording the frequency of behaviors before and during the implementation of the enrichments. Twelve types of enrichments were tested in each environment, four olfactory, four food and four recreational or game. The enrichers were chosen according to their feasibility of application, considering factors such as low-cost materials, materials present in the zoo, time and effort of application. Anomalous and stereotyped behaviors were observed 66.7% before and 6% after the implementation of the set of enrichment agents. The jaguars reacted positively to all the enhancers. The most effective enrichments were food, followed by play and olfactory. The implementation of environmental enrichments in the zoo was successful for the jaguars because they were able to reduce abnormal behaviors by providing them with different activities that kept them physically and mentally occupied. We suggest the application of this program in other zoos and rescue centers, for the good of the jaguars' health, improving their quality of life and also for educational purposes for the visitors.
Keywords
environmental enrichment; behavior; Panthera onca; stress; stereotype; Bolivia; environmental enrichment; behavior; stress; stereotypy; Bolivia
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PUB35753