The effects of husbandry training on stereotypic pacing in captive African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus)

To examine the effects of operant conditioning on stereotypic pacing in 3 female African wild dogs located at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, this study made recordings of pacing behavior immediately following individual sessions of husbandry training and 2 no-training conditions. The study found significant differences in the percentage of observations spent in stereotypic pacing behaviors for all 3 dogs among the 3 different conditions. The authors discuss the data in terms of the contribution of motivated tasks to the effects and the role of food deprivation in the expression of stereotypic pacing. The study suggests that even short periods of training may improve the African wild dogs\u27 welfare by reducing stereotypic pacing following the conditioning sessions

Plenary 4: Wet, Wild, and In Between: Expanding Horizons with Animal Behavior Research at BSC

Though research settings vary widely, shared concerns and overlapping approaches will bring together three separate disciplines in this session. The first goal is to allow participants to share their own research into animal behavior. Dr. Ingmanson will focus on ape gestural communication, drawing on her work with great apes and gibbons. Dr. Jahoda will present information from his research into the behavior and ecology of humpbacked whales, which has been ongoing since the mid-1970s. Dr. Shyne will share some of her work on zoo animal welfare, and how behavioral training techniques can improve the care and life for these animals. The second goal of this session will be to share insights into the challenges and successes we have had incorporating students into our research. These differ with discipline, but our shared interests in animal behavior and welfare allow us to bridge the boundaries of the wet, wild and in-betweens