Effects of food-based enrichment on enclosure use and behavioral patterns in captive mammalian predators: a case study from an Austrian wildlife park.

ABSTRACT:

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

SUBMITTER: Puehringer-Sturmayr V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10569183 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature