Pre and post session behaviour of captive bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus involved in "Swim-with-Dolphin" events

Published studies suggest that some dolphins find swim-with-dolphin (SWD) enriching or are hardly affected by it, while others find this stressful. In this study we investigated whether there are behavioural changes in dolphins after controlled SWD sessions in comparison with periods immediately before the session or at times when no session is due; and whether these behavioural changes indicate enhanced or reduced welfare. The study was undertaken at Dolphin Academy in Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, between May and June 2017. Thirteen dolphins were subjects, four male and nine females with ages ranging from 4yrs to 32yrs. Observations of dolphins took place in any of the five semi-open water pools and constituted of 30-minute focal animal sessions. These were timed to occur during the 30 minutes immediately before the start of a scheduled SWD session (‘before’), during the 30 minutes immediately following the same session (‘after’), and during a 30-minute period when the animal was not about to be part of a session or had not just finished a session (‘control’). Sessions for observation were chosen opportunistically according to the timetable used by the facility. Two ethograms were used, one for state behaviours and one for event behaviours. A total of 184 30-minute observations periods were completed, divided between the three different conditions. A minimum of six before-after pairs was possible for all subjects except one dolphin. Multiple regression produced significant models for several behaviours, but the significant predictors were mostly the pool in which observations occurred or the presence of disturbance or trainers, but not condition. It appears in our study that the welfare of the dolphins was neither compromised nor improved by taking part in the SWD sessions. There is no evidence in our data that taking part in a SWD session in itself has any impact on the behaviour of the dolphins, but that in all conditions (before, after and control) they spend time responding to the presence of trainers or disturbance, both in their own pool and in neighbouring pools. Further research should address the question whether the effects of disturbances and the presence of trainers are compromising or improving the welfare of the dolphins, and whether the increased interaction with trainers due to the SWD sessions is itself enriching for the animals

The visitor effect in petting zoo-housed animals: Aversive or enriching?

Two studies were carried out on the effect of visitors on mixed-breed goats, llama, and Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs housed in a petting zoo display within a safari park. In the first study we investigated the effect of the presence and density of visitors on the animals' behaviour and in the second, the effect of animal grooming by the visitors. We hypothesised that the animals' behaviour would be negatively affected by presence of visitors compared to periods of their absence, but this hypothesis was not fully supported by the data. Goat and llama behaviour was unaffected by the presence of the public, while the pigs showed decreased inactivity and social behaviour, both affiliative and aggressive, when visitors were present. All three study species exhibited increased levels of non-aggressive interaction with the public when visitor density was higher but the level of avoidance or aggression towards visitors was not dependent on density. The goats were less often in physical contact with other goats and less likely to be within proximity of a non-conspecific when visitor numbers were high, whereas the pigs showed decreased feeding, a behaviour that constituted a majority of their activity budget. Species differences were observed in the proportion of samples the study groups interacted in a non-aggressive manner with visitors, goats being most likely and llama the least likely to engage in this behaviour. In the second study visitors were provided with a grooming tool and asked to groom the animals, but no significant behavioural change was observed in either goats or pigs as a result. Visitors groomed goats, but not pigs, more than they interacted with them in non-grooming interactions, and goats, but not pigs, responded less to grooming as visitor density increased. Although significant behavioural changes in all three study species were associated with either visitor presence or density, the low levels of avoidance of visitors, visitor-directed aggression, or animal-directed aggression, suggest the welfare of the study animals was not profoundly impacted by visitor-related stimuli. Furthermore, there was no evidence that grooming by the public was enriching for the animals. The species differences reported here do suggest, however, that Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs and llama are more sensitive to visitor pressure than goats and particular attention to their welfare may be necessary when they are housed in petting zoo displays

Is Wounding Aggression in Zoo-housed Chimpanzees and Ring-tailed Lemurs related to Zoo Visitor Numbers?

Chimpanzees in laboratory colonies experience more wounds on week days than on weekends, which has been attributed to the increased number of people present during the week; thus the presence of more people was interpreted as stressful. If this were also true for primates in zoos, where high human presence is a regular feature, this would clearly be of concern. Here we examine wounding rates in two primate species (chimpanzees Pan troglodytes and ring-tailed lemurs Lemur catta) at three different zoos, to determine whether they correlate with mean number of visitors to the zoo. Wounding data were obtained from zoo electronic record keeping system (ZIMS™). The pattern of wounds did not correlate with mean gate numbers for those days for either species in any group. We conclude that there is no evidence that high visitor numbers result in increased woundings in these two species when housed in zoos

The need for a convergence of agricultural/laboratory and zoo-based approaches to animal welfare

Advances in animal welfare science have led to a high number of studies published for farm, laboratory and zoo animals, with a huge breadth of innovative topic areas and methodologies. This paper investigates the different approaches used to undertake welfare research in farm, laboratory and zoo animals due to the variety of constraints that each group brings. We also set recommendations to how groups can support each other in moving forwards to reduce animal suffering and promote a life worth living, a goal that all parties aim to achieve. We propose that researchers develop more collaborations across species, in particular to focus on the applied component of animal welfare and utilizing positive welfare indicators; facilitate knowledge transfer and share good practice worldwide; and accept small n based studies that can still be scientifically robust and provide individual-based steps into advances in our knowledge. Ultimately, we need to be progressing animal welfare science to a point beyond legislative needs, and ensure that ‘high animal welfare’ becomes an additional mission statement for all animal-based industries

Human-animal interactions, relationships and bonds: a review and analysis of the literature

The study of human-animal interactions (HAI), and the resulting human-animal relationships (HARs) and bonds (HABs) which are set up as a consequence, is currently a topical issue in comparative psychology. Here we review the HAI/HAR/HAB literature to detect the main publication trends, and to identify the predominant research themes in this area. Research in HAI/HAR/HAB only really started in the 1980s, but since then there has been a growth in studies which is still continuing. Most of these studies have been in the contexts of companion animal or agricultural animal research, but there is now a growing literature on laboratory, zoo and wild animals too. In the companion animal HAI/HAB literature the greatest emphasis has been on Animal-assisted Interventions (AAI), and the benefits to people of pet ownership and interaction with pets. Agricultural HAI/HAR research, on the contrary, has been more concerned with the welfare consequences of HAI/HARs to the animals. This disjunction is reflected in the preference of companion animal researchers to use the term ‘bond’, but agricultural researchers to use ‘relationship’. Other themes prominent in the literature include methodological issues, the characteristics of caretakers, the role of veterinarians, sociological approaches, and theoretical aspects. It is concluded that currently HAI/HAR/HAB research does not constitute a unified field, and there is a need to: i) agree and define a standard terminology; ii) undertake more research on the effects of HAI on companion animals; iii) undertake more research on the form and frequency of interactions; and iv) increase research on HAI/HAR/HABs in laboratory, zoo and wild-living animals. This research is important to understand whether HAI has positive, neutral or negative consequences, both for humans and for animals

Human-animal interactions, relationships and bonds: a review and analysis of the literature

The study of human-animal interactions (HAI), and the resulting human-animal relationships (HARs) and bonds (HABs) which are set up as a consequence, is currently a topical issue in comparative psychology. Here we review the HAI/HAR/HAB literature to detect the main publication trends, and to identify the predominant research themes in this area. Research in HAI/HAR/HAB only really started in the 1980s, but since then there has been a growth in studies which is still continuing. Most of these studies have been in the contexts of companion animal or agricultural animal research, but there is now a growing literature on laboratory, zoo and wild animals too. In the companion animal HAI/HAB literature the greatest emphasis has been on Animal-assisted Interventions (AAI), and the benefits to people of pet ownership and interaction with pets. Agricultural HAI/HAR research, on the contrary, has been more concerned with the welfare consequences of HAI/HARs to the animals. This disjunction is reflected in the preference of companion animal researchers to use the term ‘bond’, but agricultural researchers to use ‘relationship’. Other themes prominent in the literature include methodological issues, the characteristics of caretakers, the role of veterinarians, sociological approaches, and theoretical aspects. It is concluded that currently HAI/HAR/HAB research does not constitute a unified field, and there is a need to: i) agree and define a standard terminology; ii) undertake more research on the effects of HAI on companion animals; iii) undertake more research on the form and frequency of interactions; and iv) increase research on HAI/HAR/HABs in laboratory, zoo and wild-living animals. This research is important to understand whether HAI has positive, neutral or negative consequences, both for humans and for animals

Sexual dichromatism and female preference in Eulemur fulvus subspecies

We experimentally tested the hypothesis that sexual dichromatism in the subspecies of Eulemur fulvus is the evolutionary result of female preference for brightly colored males. Ten female lemurs representing 6 different subspecies of Eulemur fulvus were subjects in the experiment; controls were 4 females of non-sexually dichromatic lemurid taxa. For each taxon we presented photographs of the face of a male of that taxon whose colors had been digitally altered to make him less and more colourful. Median viewing times of the pooled female Eulemur fulvus are significantly correlated with colorfulness. Viewing times in the control females are not correlated with color or brightness of the stimulus photographs. We concluded that the females of the Eulemur fulvus sspp. preferred to view photographs of more colorful males, which is consistent with the predictions of sexual selection theory

Zoo animals: behaviour, management and welfare, 2nd edition

The keeping of zoo animals is a central tool in the conservation of some of the world's most fascinating, yet threatened, species. But how do zoos operate on a day-to-day basis? What are the key challenges they face in trying to feed, manage, and keep healthy the animals in their care? How can they play their part in conserving biodiversity? Zoo Animals: Behaviour, Management and Welfare addresses the key questions surrounding the keeping of exotic animals in captivity, and reveals how we can apply our ever-growing understanding of animal behaviour and use an evidence based approach to ensure zoo animals are managed as effectively as possible. Drawing on their extensive experience of zoo research, practice, and teaching, the authors blend together theory with a broad range of both mammalian and non-mammalian examples to give a highly-readable overview of this burgeoning field. Zoo Animals: Behaviour, Management, and Welfare is the ideal resource for anyone needing a thorough grounding in this subject, whether as a student or as a zoo professional