Effects of olfactory enrichment on diurnal activity and stereotypic behaviour of captive Malayan tigers (Panthera tigris jacksoni)

Environment enrichment using olfactory stimuli is an emerging facet of zoo animal management, and has been shown to be effective in increasing behavioural diversity and reducing stereotypies in captive animals. This study was undertaken to document the effects of olfactory enrichment on the diurnal activity patterns and stereotypic repertoire in captive Malayan Tigers (Panthera tigris jacksoni). The diurnal behaviour of three pairs of adult P.t. jacksoni was observed at a local zoo using instantaneous scan sampling. The experimental protocol comprised three temporal blocks (pre-enrichment, enrichment and post-enrichment) lasting for five days each. A synthetically derived product (perfume) and a natural product (lime) were used as olfactory stimuli, and were applied on the walls of the enclosure following a fixed alternating routine. The frequency of behaviours and stereotypies observed for each tiger were scored following a defined ethogram. The diurnal activity budgets of the tigers were dominated by locomotion and stance (47%) and resting (33%). Pacing and patrolling were the major stereotypies exhibited by the tigers accounting for 8% of the diurnal activity budget. Investigative behaviour and scent marking significantly increased during the enrichment period. A reduction in locomotor activity was noted and the tigers spent more time resting in the presence of the olfactory stimuli. The frequency of stereotypic pacing and patrolling did not differ significantly between the pre-enrichment, enrichment and post-enrichment phases. However, the tigers did exhibit a trend of decreasing stereotypic behaviour pattern when the olfactory enrichment items were introduced. The highest contact frequency of the olfactory items was during the morning and evening. Olfactory stimuli have the potential to be used as a form of enrichment in captive tigers to increase their behavioural diversity and encourage investigative activities. Experimenting with varieties of olfactory stimuli may reveal preferences in captive tigers, and may prove effective in alleviating stress and reducing stereotypies in captive populations

Concentration of serum amyloid A in clinically normal endurance horses in Malaysia

Endurance horses continuously undergoing training. This will cause inflammation which leads to acute phase reaction with the production of acute phase protein, especially serum amyloid A (SAA). The purpose of this study was to establish concentration of SAA in normal endurance horses in the blood serum using two-site enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA) technique. Horse sera were aliquoted from blood taken from jugular venipuncture. The highest concentration of SAA was observed in horses rested between 12 months and 24 months. The lowest concentration of SAA was noticed in horses rested more than 24 months. All the horses between 6 and 11 years old have high SAA concentration. When resting intervals were compared against gender of the horses, it was noted that all mares have high SAA concentration compared to gelding and stallion. Whereas SAA concentration in Thoroughbred horses were high compared to Arabian horses in all rest intervals. The SAA concentration in horses rested more than 24 months was low most probably because the horses recovered well from the inflammatory process happened during the endurance race

The influence of enclosure design on diurnal activity and stereotypic behaviour in captive Malayan Sun bears (Helarctos malayanus)

The effect of enclosure design on diurnal activity and stereotypic behaviour was assessed in 17 adult Malayan Sun bears (Helarctos malayanus), kept either in barren indoor enclosures or relatively enriched outdoor enclosures. Locomotion was the most frequent activity observed in the indoor bears, followed by resting. In contrast, conspecifics housed outdoors spent most of the time resting. Eleven forms of stereotypic behaviours were recorded in the bears, with pacing being the most common. The frequency and repertoire of stereotypies were significantly higher in the indoor bears irrespective of enclosure size. Novel forms of locomotor (forward-reverse pacing) and oral (allo-sucking) stereotypies were recorded. Oral stereotypies were predominant in the bears housed indoors, while patrolling was confined to the outdoor bears. Enclosure complexity significantly influences activity budget and occurrence of stereotypic behaviours, highlighting the importance of appropriate enclosure design and enrichment for the welfare of captive bears

Diurnal activity pattern and behaviour of captive Prevost's squirrels (Callosciurus prevostii)

Wild populations of Prevost’s squirrel (Callosciurus prevostii) are currently threatened due loss of feeding and nesting sites as a consequence of habitat destruction and hunting activities. It is therefore important that efforts to conserve this species are initiated, to prevent the extinction of C. prevostii in the near future. In view of that, this study was undertaken to establish the diurnal activity pattern and behaviour of captive C. prevostii (n = 10), to warrant a better understanding of their biology which may assist in conservation efforts of this species. Data obtained through direct visual surveillance of the subjects whilst they were in their captive enclosure was feasible at a distance of 1.5 m. Behavioural measure were performed via scan sampling of the subjects every 10 minutes between 0700 and 1900 hours, over a period of 28 days. Captive C. prevostii spent a significant period in the daytime either resting or climbing. These behaviours were consistently high during both the conditioning and post-conditioning period which were 7 and 21 days, respectively. Locomotor stereotypy, namely pacing and circling, was also evident during the two observation periods and could be attributed to the natural active predisposition of C. prevostii, which is arboreal in the wild

Redescription of Serpinema octorugatum (Baylis, 1933) (Nematoda:Camallanidae) from the Malayan box turtle Cuora amboinensis (Daudin)(Chelonia: Bataguridae)

We redescribe the camallanid nematode Serpinema octorugatum (Baylis, 1933) from the box turtle Cuora amboinensis (Daudin) collected in Malaysia. In this redescription, we amend the original description by noting that there are only four cephalic papillae and that there are five pairs of post-anal papillae, and propose that the name of this species be corrected from S. octorugatus to S. octorugatum. Additionally, we removed the tissues overlying the buccal capsule and have used SEM studies to show that the peribuccal shields extend laterally from the buccal capsule, forming a surface possibly used in muscle attachment. Furthermore, we show that the supposedly noncuticularised cylinder connecting the buccal capsule to the oesophagus in the Camallanidae is part of the buccal capsule and is, therefore, likely to be cuticularised. We also examine morphological measurements of taxonomic interest for correlations with total body length and find that many characters traditionally used for inter-and intraspecific comparisons are correlated with total body length in adult female worms. This suggests that comparisons between samples of adult female worms that do not account for the potential effect of total body length may be misleading. However, we show that some features of taxonomic interest are not correlated with total body length

Serological prevalence of leptospira infection in Malayan Porcupines (Hystrix brachyura) in captivity

Leptospirosis is recognised as one of the important zoonotic diseases in the world including Malaysia and rodents are the major natural reservoir of this disease. A study was conducted to determine the serological prevalence of leptospiral infection among a rodent species, the Malayan Porcupine (Hystrix brachyura). A total of 50 serum samples were obtained from the porcupines kept in captivity at the Wildlife Conservation Centre, Sungai Dusun, Selangor. The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was performed to detect the presence of agglutinating antibodies to a panel of 16 Leptospira serovars (Australis, Autumnalis, Ballum, Bataviae, Canicola, Celledoni, Djasiman, Hardjobovis, Hardjo, Hebdomadis, Hurstbridge, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Javanica, Pomona, Pyrogenes and Sejroe). From the serological test, 18% (9/50) of the porcupines had leptospiral antibodies to serovars Javanica (8%), Hurstbridge (4%), Ballum (2%), Celledoni (2%) and Hardjoprajitno (2%). Hence, this study disclosed that leptospiral infection was prevalent among the Malayan Porcupines and could be a potential source of infection to humans

Interstitial pulmonary fibrosis in a Malaysian captive Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)

A 14-year-old female captive Asian elephant in a Malaysian z oo with a history of positive sero-reactivity to Elephant TB STAT-PAK assay was humanely euthanized due to chronic weight loss and poor response to treatment. Postmortem revealed generalized congestion and emphysematous lungs. Microscopically, there were severe pulmonary emphysema, eosinophilic hyaline membrane and infiltration of mature fibrocytes in the alveolar walls. Based on the histopathological findings interstitial pulmonary fibrosis was diagnosed. The possible cause of which although not completely known, is most likely due to hypersensitivity. The allergic reaction could have been caused by exposure to antigens of avian origin or the Mycobacterium gilvum, an non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM), isolated from the lung. This is the second case reported in elephants globally, thought it has been well studied in humans and reported in horses. Providing good husbandry for elephants in captivity is important to reduce the occurrence of such condition

Evaluating the contribution of a wildlife health capacity building program on orangutan conservation

One Health is increasingly being used as a tool in ecosystem protection. The Orangutan Veterinary Advisory Group (OVAG) is working to address One Health concerns in Pongo spp. (orangutan) welfare and conservation. Orangutans are vital contributors to the ecosystem health of their range areas. Strengthening national capacity is crucial to make a lasting difference in the currently bleak outlook for orangutan species survival. OVAG is a capacity strengthening and expertise network that brings together all those working with orangutans, in- and ex-situ, to share knowledge, skills, and to collectively learn. Using the One Health paradigm embedded to enhance professional development, the OVAG network is successfully supporting conservation outcomes and impact. As part of our adaptive management approach, and to assess individual and organizational change attributable to the capacity strengthening work of OVAG, we evaluated technical skill test data, program satisfaction data, and asked participants to complete a self-reflective survey. This pilot study of our work demonstrates statistically significant improvements in conservation medicine (t = 5.481, p < 0.0001) and wildlife clinical skills knowledge (t = 3.923, p < 0.001) for those in the OVAG program. Most consider OVAG participation to be either critical or very useful in their conservation medicine decision-making process, with a perceived positive impact on their skills at handling multiple situations. Additionally, participant feedback shows a sense of being able to drive positive change locally and nationally (within their own countries) as a consequence of OVAG participation. The authors hope the OVAG model including its associated capacity support mechanisms and pedagogical approaches can be used as a template for other One Health efforts

Towards the accreditation of Southeast Asian zoos : the Malaysian experience.

Zoo accreditation and captive animal welfare have become issues of pivotal concern for zoological facilities worldwide. In South-east Asia, many establishments have become the focus of attention and their roles as centres of education and conservation have been questioned. As such, there is a driving need for standards to be established in areas of animal husbandry, enclosure design and animal welfare. With over 40 public and private zoological parks in Peninsular Malaysia, the establishment of guidelines on zoo management is of national concern.The Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 was gazetted to govern the conservation, utilisation, trade and welfare of wild animals. Following this, audits were conducted on various zoological facilities to evaluate their management practices and animal welfare standards. The proposed national zoo accreditation program emphasises on providing a suitable physical, physiological and psychological environment for the animals. Focal areas include space requirements,provision of suitable furniture, substrate and enrichment, feeding regime and diet, management of zoo records, improvement of waste management and sanitation, and protocols for safety, biosecurity and disease monitoring. It is envisaged that such a program, although laden with many challenges, will ensure the gradual improvement in the welfare standards of captive wild animals in the country

Welfare of zoo animals in Malaysia : current trends measures for improvement.

Over recent years, the issue of zoo animal welfare has been the focus of both the government and local NGOs in Malaysia. With over 40 public zoological parks and private collections, the emphasis for providing proper care and husbandry to wild animals in captivity is of pivotal concern. Following this, the new Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716) has been put in place to supersede previous laws governing conservation, utilisation, trade and welfare of captive wild animals in the country. While many zoo operators have portrayed their genuine concern for the improvement of the welfare of wild animals held at their facilities, many are held back with constraints of space and budget. As such, audits were carried out at most of the major establishments to evaluate the current situation and recommendations have been issued on how these obstacles may be overcome within a reasonable period of transition time.\ud The first phase of the remedial process will involve the large mammals and primates, with emphasis on providing a suitable physical, physiological and psychological environment, provision of a suitable diet, and timely veterinary care. Specific issues highlighted include the refurbishment and upgrading of the enclosures to address space requirements of outdoor exhibits and indoor night stalls, provision of suitable furniture, substrate and enrichment according to the needs of the species. Emphasis will also be given to the feeding regime and diet, improvement in overall sanitation of the enclosures, management of zoo records, designing prophylaxis and prevention programmes, improvement of waste management, protocols for quarantine and disease monitoring, and the employment of either a permanent or named consultant veterinary surgeon. The second phase will cater for small mammals, birds and herpetofauna. lt is envisaged that such a programme, although laden with many challenges, will ensure the gradual improvement in the welfare standards of wild animals held in zoological facilities in the country