ABSTRACT
The behavior of zoo carnivores has received intense attention due to their propensity for locomotor stereotypies. We observed two adult male tiger (Panthera tigris) siblings kept together for the duration of 104 days by round-the-clock video observation. The period consisted of three baseline periods with the zoo's regular feeding regime of five feeding days per week interrupted by two individual fasting days, with feeding occurring in the evening (B1-B3 of 14 days each). These periods were interrupted by two intervention periods (I1: randomized feeding times, 28 days; I2: gorge-feeding with three 10-day fasting periods, 34 days). As expected, day and night-time behavior was different, with the majority of sleep occurring at night. Pacing, which was mainly considered anticipatory, significantly decreased from 88 ± 132 min/day during B1 to 20 ± 33 min/day during B3. Pacing did not increase during the fasting days of I2. Over the course of whole study, lying time decreased and nonpacing locomotion increased. A major difference was observed between gorge-feeding and the subsequent first fasting days: during gorge-feeding, tigers spent a large part of the day feeding and locomoting (and less sleeping); on the subsequent day, they locomoted about 4.5 h less and slept about 4.3 h more. We suggest that interrupting routines by fasting periods of several days may be effective for reducing regular anticipatory behavior and creates an across-day structure that may correspond to the evolved psychological disposition of large carnivores.
ABSTRACT
Mammals are constantly exposed to exogenous and endogenous influences that affect their behaviour and daily activity. Light and temperature, as well as anthropogenic factors such as husbandry routines, visitors, and feeding schedules are potential influences on animals in zoological gardens. In order to investigate the effects of some of these factors on animal behaviour, observational studies based on the analyses of activity budgets can be used. In this study, the daily and nightly activity budgets of six lions (Panthera leo) and five cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) from four EAZA institutions were investigated. Focused on the influencing factor light and feeding, we analysed these activity budgets descriptively. Behaviour was recorded and analysed during the winter months over an observation period of 14 days and 14 nights using infrared-sensitive cameras. Our results show that lions and cheetahs exhibit activity peaks at crepuscular and feeding times, regardless of husbandry. Thus, lions in captivity shift nocturnal behaviour familiar from the wild to crepuscular and diurnal times. In cheetahs, in contrast, captive and wild individuals show similar 24 h behavioural rhythms. The resting behaviour of both species is more pronounced at night, with cheetahs having a shorter overall sleep duration than lions. This study describes the results of the examined animals and is not predictive. Nevertheless, the results of this study make an important contribution to gaining knowledge about possible factors influencing the behaviour of lions and cheetahs in zoos and offer implications that could be useful for improving husbandry and management.
