IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| de Castro, L.S. | |
| Influˆncias do enriquecimento ambiental no comportamento e n¡vel de cortisol em fel¡deos silvestres | |
| 2009 Full Book | |
The main goal of this study was to evaluate the different captive conditions and their effect on the behaviour and physiology related to stress in three wild cats species, ocelot (_Leopardus pardalis_; n=6), margay (_Leopardus wiedii_; n=1) and tigrina (_Leopardus tigrinus_; n=5). The individuals were housed as singleton, and they were tested in three phases: phase I - empty enclosure for 14 days; phase II - enriched enclosure for 21 days (different kinds of enrichment were used in the same time in every enclosure); phase III - empty enclosure for nine days. Faecal samples were collected weekly throughout the study (one or two samples) to analyse corticoid metabolites. About forty four hours of Behaviour observations were conducted on each individual. The duration of some behaviours related to stress, mainly pacing and self-directed scratching, was significantly shorter during the enrichment phase when compared to phase I (p<0.05). The levels of corticoid metabolites did not vary significative among phases, but inter-individual differences were detected. The individuals interacted more with vegetation and feeding enrichments than with others. The corticoid metabolites level was correlated with some stress behaviours. Overall results show that a short period of enrichment can alter the behaviour of enclosed wild cats, indicating enhanced welfare. However, a long-term physiological change would probably need a longer exposure to an enriched environment. |
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