Zoo Animal Welfare Research. David Shepherdson Ph.D. Oregon Zoo

Transcription

1 Zoo Animal Welfare Research David Shepherdson Ph.D. Oregon Zoo

2 Core Zoo Values Conserva>on Animal Welfare

3 Defini>on Animal Welfare refers to an animal s collec>ve physical, mental, and emo>onal states over a period of >me, and is measured on a con>nuum from good to poor.? Explana>on: An animal typically experiences good welfare when healthy, comfortable, well- nourished, safe, able to develop and express species- typical rela>onships, behaviors, and cogni>ve abili>es, and is not suffering from unpleasant states such as pain, fear, or distress. Because physical, mental, and emo>onal states may be dependent on one another and can vary from day to day, it is important to consider these states in combina>on with one another over >me to provide an assessment of an animal s overall welfare status. AZA 2012

4 Some ugly facts Wild animal popula>ons have declined by 70% since the 1970 s >46,677 species threatened with ex>nc>on Zoo popula>ons of endangered species are not currently sustainable An> zoo organiza>ons gaining momentum

5 Paradox 1 Zoos: Seek to inspire public sympathy for the future of wildlife and save species from ex>nc>on Keep animals confined away from nature and manage their lives

6 Zoo animal welfare Markowitz USDA Primate regs Oregon ICEE Conference Second Nature AZA Accredita>on AZA MAETP AZA AWC created IMLS Elephant grant

7 Zoo animal welfare Zoos are moving toward more naturalis>c environments - enrichment Understanding the interac>on between environment, husbandry and welfare Improved AW will improve the sustainability of zoo popula>ons (breeding, longevity & health) Need to account for welfare of non exhibit species

8 Paradox 2 Conserva>on: Care for wildlife, restoring sustainable popula>ons and recovering habitat Managing the natality and mortality of individuals in rela>on to the well- being of species and ecosystems, some>mes at the expense of individual wellbeing

9 Animal welfare and conserva>on The wellbeing of individuals impacts popula>on health: Stress caused by human disturbance Environmental contamina>on Wildlife disease Survival of translocated animals

10 Animal welfare and conserva>on Care for popula>ons of animals at the expense of individuals is not ethically or logically consistent The greatest welfare threat to animals is anthropogenic elimina>on of wildlife Key to resolu>on of paradox is animal welfare

11 Welfare Conserva>on Individual Popula3on

12 Nexus Conserva>on In- situ/ex- situ Zoos Conserva>on Educa>on/ advocacy Animal welfare

13 Measures of Poor Welfare Life span Ability to grow or breed Injury Disease? Immunosuppressant Physiological adempts to cope Behavioral adempts to cope

14 Good Welfare Measures Diversity of Normal Behaviors Expression of preferred behaviors Explora>on? Social behavior Play Physiological indicators of pleasure Behavioral indicators of pleasure an>cipa>on Vocaliza>ons

15 Primary Goal Op>mal Welfare? Good Poor

16 Concepts Guiding Enrichment Mimicking nature Mee>ng behavioral needs Informa>on seeking Increasing environmental complexity Increasing sensory s>mula>on Removing stressors or providing coping op>ons Giving the animal control/con>ngency

17 Evolu>on of Enrichment Less mechanis>c, more naturalis>c Increase of Conceptual/goal based prac>ces and programs

18 Evolu>on of Enrichment Less mechanis>c, more naturalis>c Increase of Conceptual/goal based prac>ces and programs Increase in Taxon Diversity

19 Evolu>on of Enrichment Less mechanis>c, more naturalis>c Increase of Conceptual/goal based prac>ces and programs Increase in Taxon Diversity Increase in Sophis>ca>on and Variety Increase in Ins>tu>onal Commitment

20 Examples

21 Examples

22 Examples

23 Examples

24 Some Other Documented Effects Reduced abnormal behavior Reduced physiological stress Changes in neural morphology Increased behavioral flexibility Increased survival of reintroduced animals Increased ability to cope with stress

25 Environmental Enrichment is now a mainstream husbandry ac>vity in many Zoos

26 Elements of An AZA Approved Enrichment Program Program Descrip>on and Goals Planning/Approval process Implementa>on System Documenta>on/Record keeping Evalua>on and Readjustment

27 An Enrichment Framework Set Goals Plan Implement Document Evaluate Re- Adjust

28 Typical Goals Reduce abnormal behavior Reduce stress behaviors/physiology Increase feeding behavior Increase explora>on Increase range of natural behaviors Increase species specific behavior Increase use of space Increase ac>vity Challenge

29 Methods of Evalua>ng Enrichment Simple - Notes Keeper log books no>ng interes>ng events Moderate - Ordinal Measures Keeper ra>ng scales Direct & Indirect Intensive - Behavioral Studies - Research Ac>vity budgets quan>ta>ve informa>on

30 A review of Enrichment Studies Does enrichment reduce stereotypic behavior?

31 Does Enrichment Reduce Stereotypy? A Review of 25 Studies Swaisgood, R. R., and Shepherdson, D. J Environmental enrichment as a strategy for mitigating stereotypies in zoo animals: a literature review and a meta-analysis.: In Stereotypic animal behaviour: Fundamentals and implications to welfare., ed. G. Mason, and J. Rushen, Wallingford UK: CABI. Swaisgood, R. R., and Shepherdson, D. J Scientific approaches to enrichment and stereotypies in zoo animals: What's been done and where should we go. Zoo Biol. 24:

32 How well does enrichment work? ANOVA: F 1,20 =20.6, P= From: Swaisgood, R. R., and Shepherdson, D. J Scientific approaches to enrichment and stereotypies in zoo animals: What's been done and where should we go. Zoo Biol. 24:

33 Effect of Enrichment on Different Stereotypies From: Swaisgood, R. R., and Shepherdson, D. J Scientific approaches to enrichment and stereotypies in zoo animals: What's been done and where should we go. Zoo Biol. 24:

34 Effec>veness of Different Types of Enrichment? Fron: Swaisgood, R. R., and Shepherdson, D. J Environmental enrichment as a strategy for mi3ga3ng stereotypies in zoo animals: a literature review and a meta- analysis.: In Stereotypic animal behaviour: Fundamentals and implica3ons to welfare., ed. G. Mason, and J. Rushen, Wallingford UK: CABI.

35 Never Abolished X

36 Stress and Stereotypic Behavior in Zoo Polar Bears David Shepherdson, Karen Lewis, Kathy Carlstead, Nancy Perrin, and Karen Bauman Oregon Zoo Honolulu Zoo Oregon Health Sciences University St. Louis Zoo

37 Objec>ves Describe Stereotypic Behavior in Zoo Polar Bears Iden>fy the role of environmental, husbandry & temperament factors in the performance of stereotypic behavior Inves>gate the rela>onship between physiological measures of stress and stereotypic behavior

38 20 Partner Zoos, 55 (24.31) Bears Point Defiance, Tacoma San Francisco Los Angeles N. Carolina San Diego Zoo Cleveland Sea World Orlando Sea World San Diego Bronx Central Park, New York Buffalo Seneca Park, Rochester Toledo Toronto St Louis Brookfield Oregon Zoo Philadelphia Como, St. Paul Winnipeg Lake Superior

39 Behavior Measures Behavior coded from video taped observa>on Physiology Bi- weekly fecal samples for one year Temperament Standardised Behavior test Environmental Factors Direct observa>on, ques>onnaire & measurement

40 STPY Outcome variables Coded from video taped observa>on Cor>sol Bi- weekly fecal samples for one year

41

42

43 Figure 2. Pacing of the individual study bears, as a percentage of ac>ve >me (n=55).

44 Pacing of study bears at each zoo, as a percentage of ac>ve >me (n=20).

45 Stereotypy Mean Propor>on of >me engaged in Stereotypy 15.0% (0 41.2%) Propor>on of ac>ve >me engaged in Stereotypy 45.64% (0 86.6%)

46 Data Analysis Ins>tu>on level effects (n=20) Bear level effects (n=55) Stepwise Linear Regression models run

47 Results of a stepwise, mul>ple linear regression model for the outcome variable PACING with ins>tu>on level input variables. R 2 =0.77, Adjusted R 2 =0.73, F (3/15) =17.069, p < Beta Partial r t p Included Variables Enrichment, diversity <0.001 Number of bears <0.001 Bear view out

48 Social Groupings Female Male

49

50 %Obs days Present Ball 29.37% Bucket 11.02% Barrel 10.15% Cube 9.94% Browse 8.64% Tire 7.13% Food 6.48% Ice block 3.24% Bone 3.02% Spool 2.59% PVC pipe 2.59% Firehose 1.94% Disc 1.30% Burlap 1.30% Cardboard 0.86% Rawhide 0.43%

51 %Obs days Present Ball 29.37% p<.01 Bucket 11.02% Barrel 10.15% Cube 9.94% Browse 8.64% Tire 7.13% Food 6.48% p<.01 Ice block 3.24% Bone 3.02% Spool 2.59% PVC pipe 2.59% p<.05 Firehose 1.94% Disc 1.30% Burlap 1.30% Cardboard 0.86% Rawhide 0.43% p<.05

52 %Obs days Present Ball 29.37% Bucket 11.02% Barrel 10.15% Cube 9.94% Browse 8.64% Tire 7.13% Food Ice block 3.24% 6.48% p<.01 Bone 3.02% p<.05 Spool 2.59% PVC pipe 2.59% p<.05 Firehose 1.94% Disc 1.30% Burlap 1.30% Cardboard 0.86% Rawhide 0.43%

53 %Obs days Present Ball 29.37% Bucket 11.02% Barrel 10.15% Cube 9.94% Browse 8.64% Tire 7.13% Food Ice block 3.24% 6.48% p<.01 Bone 3.02% p<.05 Spool 2.59% PVC pipe 2.59% p<.05 Firehose 1.94% Disc 1.30% Burlap 1.30% Cardboard 0.86% Rawhide 0.43%

54 Results of a stepwise, mul>ple linear regression model for the outcome variable PACING with individual bear level input variables. R 2 =0.23, Adjusted R 2 =0.19, F (2/41) =5.968, p=0.005 Beta Partial r t p Included Variables Interest Slow to Approach

55 Results of a stepwise, mul>ple linear regression model for the outcome variable CORTISOL with individual bear level input variables. R 2 =0.23, Adjusted R 2 =0.29, F (2/37) =9.015, p=0.001 Beta Partial r t p Included Variables Interest Pacing

56 Results of a stepwise, mul>ple linear regression model for the outcome variable CORTISOL with ins>tu>on level input variables. R 2 =0.28, Adjusted R 2 =0.23, F (1/16) =6.14, p=0.025 Beta Partial r t p Included Variables Exhibit dry land area (SQ. RT.)

57 Findings More Enrichment less pacing More Training less pacing More bears less pacing Bear view out of exhibit less pacing Cor>sol associated with stpy Temperament factors Shepherdson, D., K. Lewis, K. Carlstead, J. Bauman and N. Perrin (2013). "Individual and Environmental Factors Associated With Stereotypic Behavior and Fecal Glucocor>coid Metabolite Levels in Zoo Housed Polar Bears." Applied Animal Behavior Science 147:

58 THANK YOU