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Kalafut, Kathryn Lynn Rosales-Ruiz Jesús. "The captive animal activity tracking system a systematic method for the continuous evaluation of captive animal welfare /." [Denton, Tex.] : University of North Texas, 2009. http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc12137.
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Kalafut, Kathryn Lynn. "The Captive Animal Activity Tracking System: A Systematic Method for the Continuous Evaluation of Captive Animal Welfare." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2009. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc12137/.
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Optimal animal welfare has been a long-term goal for captive animal institutions. To measure welfare a definition and identification of elements that make up welfare need to be established. Further, a method to measure welfare's elements that can be implemented into staff's daily routine is necessary to establish baseline levels and track changes in welfare. The goal of the proposed captive animal activity tracking system is to allow for the measurement of each element of welfare quickly, while providing information regarding the animal's current state of welfare and how changes to the animal's environment affect welfare. The data show that this system is effective in revealing behavioral patterns and changes in behavior that occurred in response to environmental changes.
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Bashaw, Meredith J. "Social behavior and communication in a herd of captive giraffe." Diss., Available online, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004:, 2003. http://etd.gatech.edu/theses/available/etd-04082004-180020/unrestricted/bashaw%5Fmeredith%5Fj%5F200312%5Fphd.pdf.
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Bassett, Lois. "Effects of predictability of feeding routines on the behaviour and welfare of captive primates." Thesis, University of Stirling, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/3319.
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The effects of variations in the predictability of appetitive events, such as feeding, have rarely been studied in animals in general or primates in particular. Feeding animals on highly predictable temporal schedules often results in the performance of food anticipatory activity (FAA), characterised by increased arousal and activity and thought to be detrimental to welfare. Temporally unpredictable feeding schedules have been interpreted as resulting in improved welfare. However, if feeding is made unpredictable by preceding it with an unreliable signal, it may result in frustration and aggression. It is suggested here that two distinct but overlapping types of predictability exist. 'Temporal' predictability describes whether an event occurs at fixed or variable intervals, whereas 'signalled' predictability relates to the reliability of a signal preceding the event. This thesis examines the effects of each of these types of predictability in relation to feeding. Welfare was assessed in laboratory-housed common marmosets( Callithrix jacchus) using behavioural measures, which were identified in the context of the routine stressor of human handling and weighing. The signalled and temporal predictability of presentation of a desirable titbit was subsequently experimentally manipulated. It was found that temporally unpredictable presentation of food, preceded by an unreliable signal, was associated with substantially increased stress-related behaviours in this species. If no signal was used, stress increased to a moderate level, but if the food delivery followed a reliable signal there were few behavioural changes compared to control animals. Temporally predictable feeding, without a signal, was associated with lower rates of stress-related behaviour than temporally unpredictable, unsignalled feeding. However, deviations from this temporally predictable schedule, representing delays to feeding, resulted in marked increases in stress. The results were confirmed with a further study, worked around existing feeding routines and using a different primate species, the stump-tailed macaque (Macaca arctoides). Based on these findings it is suggested that the most beneficial schedule for feeding captive primates is a temporally unpredictable one, which appears to buffer animals against the negative effects of delays as well as minimising FAA. Presentation of a reliable signal before food delivery appears to minimise the stress intrinsically associated with a temporally unpredictable routine. These recommendations represent a simple and inexpensive method of improving the welfare of captive primates.
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Oberski, Iddo M. "Dynamics of grooming and grooming reciprocation in a group of captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)." Thesis, University of Stirling, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/3463.
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Grooming relationships between adult male chimpanzees are often reciprocal, i.e. individuals receive grooming from those they groom. Grooming may be reciprocated at the same time it is received (mutual grooming), or later within the same grooming session. Alternatively, it can be reciprocated at a much later stage, in another session. An analysis of individual grooming sessions at the dyadic level was used to investigate how chimpanzees reciprocate grooming within these sessions. This study describes the grooming and reciprocation of grooming by male chimpanzees, living in a multi-male, multi-female group at the Edinburgh Zoo, Scotland. A method for the analysis of dyadic grooming relationships was based on the presence or absence of mutual and unilateral grooming in a session, which allows seven types of grooming session to be distinguished. Grooming session was defined empirically, and the duration of the bout criterion interval (BCl) depended on the presence or absence of oestrous females. For comparison, however, the same BCI was used throughout. Without oestrous females, grooming was primarily reciprocated in sessions with mutual grooming and unilateral grooming by both participants. This kind of session proved highly cooperative and each male adjusted the duration of his unilateral grooming to that of mutual grooming, rather than to the duration of unilateral grooming by the other male. Mutual grooming was less important to dyads which had a strong grooming relationship. It is suggested that mutual grooming serves as an indication of the motivation to groom unilaterally. There was no indication that males reciprocated on the basis of TIT-FOR-TAT within these sessions, or between sessions in general. Alternative hypotheses of mutual grooming were only partly confirmed in that some dyads used mutual grooming to reduce the (already very short) time they spent in grooming. However, mutual grooming did not arise from the accidental overlap in the grooming of two partners. In the presence of oestrous females, grooming cooperation between the males broke down, and this was the result of heightened aggression as well as the presence of oestrous females itself. The balance in grooming given and received shifted in the direction of dominants (i.e. dominants received more) under the influence of oestrous females, but in the opposite direction under the influence of aggression. Feeding had no effect on the reciprocity of groormng. There was considerable dyadic variation. Some dyads groomed more when there were oestrous females, others groomed less. Some dyads had proportionally less mutual grooming with increasing numbers of oestrous females, others had more. There were generally no clear patterns of grooming reciprocation over longer time-spans than the session, but the overall degree of reciprocity of a dyad was frequently reached at the end of each day. Tracing the degree of reciprocation over a few weeks indicated that some dyads' grooming was governed by dominance, whereas that of others by cooperation.
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Davis, Eloiza Marie. "Changes in genetic architecture in a 'captive breeding program" of Drosophila melanogaster." Diss., Online access via UMI:, 2009.
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McCurry, Elizabeth Mae. "Studying the effects of a 'captive breeding program' on additive genetic variance using Drosophila melanogaster relocation to a novel environment /." Diss., Online access via UMI:, 2009.
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Bashaw, Meredith Joy. "To hunt or not to hunt? : a feeding enrichment experiment with captive wild felids." Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/28558.
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Stoinski, Tara Suzanne. "Behavioral differences between captive-born, reintroduced golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia rosalia) and their wild-born offspring." Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/30368.
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Kochera, Stephanie S. "Private ownership of wild animals including endangered species conflict on the urban fringe." Ohio : Ohio University, 2002. http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd/view.cgi?ohiou1029184666.
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Webber, Catherine Elizabeth. "A comparison of behavioural development of elephant calves in captivity and in the wild : implications for welfare." Thesis, University of Stirling, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/27503.
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Compromised welfare and wellbeing of elephants (Loxodonta africana and Elephas maximus) in captive facilities are significant and global problems. The period between birth and two years old is crucial for calf survival and social and environmental learning. Behaviour and developmental processes among captive elephant calves in these first years were compared with those seen in wild calves. Wild elephants calves develop within a complex, varied social context and provide one reference for normal patterns of development. Such comparisons enable insights into welfare at captive facilities. Eleven captive elephant calves born at three UK facilities were studied from birth to 18 months (AsianN=6; AfricanN=5). Older calves (AsianN=2; AfricanN=2) were also sampled up to 3.5 years; making a total of 15 calves studied from 2009 to 2014. Due to the small sample size, the 11 younger calves were also discussed as individual case studies. By 2017, only two of these case study calves were both alive and not orphaned. Three additional calves (AsianN=1; AfricanN=2) died on their day of birth and were not sampled. This small sample highlights the ongoing lack of self-sustaining populations of captive elephants. This thesis collated systematic behavioural observations on captive calves across 373 days (483.5hrs). Calf maintenance activities (feeding, resting, moving), associations with mother and others, interactions and calf play were compared with behavioural observations of wild AsianN=101 (74hrs, Uda Walawe, Sri Lanka) and wild AfricanN=130 (252hrs, Amboseli, Kenya) calves from ~birth to five yrs. Mothers’ (captive: AsianN=4; AfricanN=4; wild: AsianN=90; AfricanN=105) activities were also recorded to explore synchrony with calves. Captive calves raised by their mothers had similar activity budgets to those seen in the wild. Expected age-related declines in suckling were found in captivity. However, captive calves were more independent than wild calves for their age in distance from mother and spent significantly more time in play. A Decision Tree for whether to breed elephants in captivity was developed; benefits that a calf potentially brings to companions, e.g. multi-generational matrilineal groups, enabling social bonding and reducing abnormal behaviours, were considered against space required for families to grow and divide naturally over time, as well as ensuring that captive-bred males are socially sustained. It was recommended that facilities invest in future enclosure/housing designs which permit: free-access to other elephants; 24hr trickle feeding; juvenile males allowed to stay with their maternal group for longer, encouraging learning opportunities and further retaining age-structure/composition. Conversely, facilities unwilling to house a male or provide appropriate group size/composition are recommended to cease breeding.
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Tighe, Emily Jayne. "The effects of captivity on display-based communication and social interaction in the captive African wild dog (Lycaon pictus)." Thesis, University of Canterbury. Biological Sciences, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/8676.
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The obligate cooperative nature of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), unique among social canids, is thought to be driven by high levels of interspecific competition and intra-guild predation with other large socially-organised predators. Research exploring how wild dogs maintain social bonds through social communication, while avoiding detection from potential competitors, is therefore vital for understanding this species. While olfactory and vocal communications are well represented in the literature concerning L. pictus, these channels of communication pose significant risks to wild dog survival, as they are inherently susceptible to eavesdropping by unintended receivers. In comparison, display communication, which requires visual contact between the signaller and receiver, poses comparatively less risk of attracting the attention of eavesdroppers. In spite of this, few studies have explored the use of display communication in wild dogs, leaving its potential significance in maintaining social bonds within packs unexplored. Using video analysis, I investigate how display communication and subsequent social interaction are affected by several pressures of the captive environment. Captivity did not appear to affect the presence of many social display types also used by free-ranging wild dogs. However, sexual behaviour was absent from the study groups, likely due to the use of contraception and pack sex composition. The effects of pack sex composition (single-sex versus mixed-sex) revealed that while the frequencies and durations of many social behaviours were not affected by sex composition, the distribution of social interactions did differ depending on group structure. Here, a highly related, single-sex group was more stable than a highly related, mixed-sex group of the same size. Differences in the captive management strategies, specifically enclosure size and feeding regime, of the two packs, may explain the behavioural differences observed. The death of a pack member permitted investigation of the effects of death on social interactions. While many of the social interactions were unaffected by the death, behaviours relating to the formation and maintenance of social dominance and social hierarchy increased after the dog’s death. The distribution of social interactions was non-random, suggesting that individuals were reorganising the social structure of the pack during this period. Finally, a small study into the effects of simultaneously added enrichments in the pack (post death) revealed that enrichment reduced the frequencies of dominance behaviours and allowed for a more even distribution of social interaction within the pack. This demonstrates how enrichment may potentially be used to reduce aggression within captive animals. Overall, this research reveals that display-based communication is important for the maintenance of sociality in captive African wild dogs. To better understand this endangered species, future studies in free-ranging populations should include this channel of communication.
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Shani, Amir. "TOURISTS' ATTITUDES TOWARD THE USE OF ANIMALS IN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION." Doctoral diss., Orlando, Fla. : University of Central Florida, 2009. http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0002693.
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Soriano, Jiménez Ana Isabel. "Indicadores del bienestar animal y programas de enriquecimiento en especies de mamíferos en cautividad. / Animal welfare indicators and environmental enrichment programs in species of wild mammals in captivity." Doctoral thesis, Universitat de Barcelona, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/107953.
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En la actualidad, los cuatro objetivos de los zoos modernos son la educación, la investigación, la conservación y el ocio. Esta tesis se centró en la evaluación de algunos indicadores de bienestar animal en cuatro especies de mamíferos en condiciones de cautividad (el patrón de actividad diario, la ocurrencia de conductas aberrantes, el uso del espacio y las interacciones sociales). Los principales resultados obtenidos en este estudio pueden resumirse en: 1) Las conductas aberrantes en dos hembras de oso pardo (Ursus arctos) en cautividad mostraron variaciones estacionales al igual que lo observado en las conductas típicas de la especie en condiciones de libertad; 2) En el oso pardo (U. arctos) la presencia de público provocó un aumento en la ocurrencia de estereotipias y un uso del espacio más homogéneo, mientras que en el oso panda gigante (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) no se observaron estereotipias ni una influencia del público en el uso del espacio; 3) La seminaturalización de la instalación de dos individuos de oso pardo (U. arctos), un macho y una hembra, provocó que únicamente el macho alcanzara un nivel de actividad similar al observado en sus conspecíficos en libertad para la misma época del año (verano), haciendo un uso más homogéneo del espacio disponible. Los dos ejemplares de oso pardo estudiados respondieron de forma diferente al enriquecimiento estructural; 4) El estudio de la eficacia de un programa de enriquecimiento alimentario, sensorial y ocupacional en tres individuos de oso pardo (U. arctos), puso de manifiesto cuatro modelos de evaluación de dichos programas: el modelo de la ganancia, el la habituación, el la continuidad y el de la fluctuación de la eficacia del ítem; 5) La muerte del macho alfa en una manada de lobos ibéricos (Canis lupus signatus) provocó un aumento de las conductas de “vigilancia” y “no visible”, así como un uso del espacio menos homogéneo; 6) Las interacciones maternofiliales en tres madres y tres crías de león marino de California (Zalophus californianus) en cautividad mostraron varias semejanzas con las que presenta la especie los en libertad (los individuos se mantuvieron inactivos durante la mayor parte del tiempo y las crías macho presentaron mayores episodios lúdicos que las hembras).
Los factores que influyen en el bienestar de los animales de este estudio deberían tenerse en cuenta para garantizar que las condiciones de cautividad son adecuadas para los animales. Estos factores son las condiciones sociales de la especie, el tamaño y el diseño idóneo de la instalación, los requerimientos climatológicos de la especie, la composición de la dieta, la estimulación física y/o psicológica, la influencia del público y los cuidados veterinarios. La clave para garantizar el bienestar de los animales radica en estudiar minuciosamente las necesidades físicas y psicológicas de los mismos a través del conocimiento tanto de la historia natural de las especies como de los trabajos realizados en otros zoos.At present, the four objectives of modern zoos are conservation, education, research and entertainment. This thesis investigates animal welfare indicators in four species of mammals in captivity: activity patterns, aberrant behaviors, space use and social interactions. Different aspects were studied in this work: 1) Seasonal variations in the daily aberrant behavior of two female brown bears (Ursus arctos) in captivity, concluding that the seasonal variation was the same as their wild counterparts; 2) Comparing the influence of visitors on the behavior and space use of brown bears (U. arctos) and giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in the presence of the public; the brown bears showed higher percentages of stereotypes and a more homogeneous use of space; 3) Introducing a semi-naturalistic exhibit for two brown bears (U. arctos), concluding that the percentage of summer activity observed in the male was very similar to that of wild counterparts and the use of space was more homogeneous. The 2 individuals responded in different ways to the structural enrichment; 4) Environmental enrichment evaluation study in three brown bears (U. arctos) determined the four models of environmental enrichment efficacy: increase, habituation, continuity and fluctuation of device enrichment; 5) The death of the alpha male in an Iberian wolf pack (Canis lupus signatus) showed an increase of vigilance and not visible behaviors and the use of space was less homogeneous; 6) Mother-pup relationship in three captive California sea-lions (Zalophus californianus) determined some similarities with wild counterparts: the inactivity was most behavior time inverted and the male pups showed more play episodes than the females. The factors that influence animal well-being in this study must be accounted for in their captivity conditions. These factors were species social conditions, size and design of enclosures, climatological necessities of species, diet composition, mental and physical stimulation and veterinary attention. The key to animal well-being involves the detailed study of physical and psychological necessities through the knowledge of species natural history and the discoveries of other zoos.
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Garner, Joseph P. "The aetiology of stereotypy in caged animals." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.670219.
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Allard, Stephanie M. "The effect of enrichment structures on the behavior of captive western lowland gorillas (gorill g. gorilla) and public perception." Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/36539.
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Schmalz-Peixoto, Karin E. von. "Factors affecting breeding in captive Carnivora." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2003. http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:64687fe3-f6ca-4d9b-90d8-b6f1e565711a.
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Captive carnivores pose a challenge for conservationists and institutions alike, presenting many problems that range from diseases to poor welfare and unsuccessful breeding. Available databases of captive populations are rich sources of information that can help determine which factors can affect breeding success and the real potential of these populations in conservation programmes. Some species, such as tigers Panthera tigris, seem to preserve in captivity the same reproductive parameters seen in wild animals, making captive individuals extremely useful in the research of reproductive biology, that can be applied in evolutionary and physiological studies of the order Carnivora. Specific reproductive characteristics, mainly connected with the altriciality of the young, can make some species more prone to lose young in captivity than others, and these factors must be taken into consideration when developing ex situ conservation programmes. Infant mortality in captivity seems to be primarily caused by inadequate maternal behaviour, which can be connected to biological factors as well as to individual characteristics such as origin and rearing methods. Maternal infanticide, either passive or active, is also affected by biological and ecological characteristics of the species, and there may be an effect of the origin of the females, i.e. if they were wildcaught or captive-born. Housing conditions and individual history affect infant mortality, with females that suffered transfer between institutions exhibiting lower breeding success. Also, institutions with thriving research programmes presented higher infant mortality overall, independently of their latitude or management system, which can indicate an effect of human interference. Further research, both in the wild and in captivity, is needed to fully understand the factors affecting breeding success of captive carnivores.
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McCusker, Sarah. "Effects of three practical diets on feeding behavior, nutritional status, rumen health, and growth of captive mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) fawns." Pullman, Wash. : Washington State University, 2009. http://www.dissertations.wsu.edu/Thesis/Fall2009/s_mccusker_110209.pdf.
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Thesis (M.S. in natural resource sciences)--Washington State University, December 2009.Title from PDF title page (viewed on Jan. 21, 2010). "Department of Natural Resource Sciences." Includes bibliographical references.
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Hannah, Alison Campbell. "Rehabilitation of captive Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus)." Thesis, University of Stirling, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/12549.
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The behaviour of 48 chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) was studied over 27 months in Liberia, West Africa. The chimpanzees were first studied while they were housed in groups in enclosures in a medical research institute, and then after their release onto a 9.7 ha offshore island. When the chimpanzees were observed in captivity, data on social behaviour were collected with the use of check sheets and ad libitum notes. Data were collected on aggression, social grooming, social play, sexual behaviour, and individual spacing. After release onto the island, data on both social and subsistence behaviour were collected with the use of ad libitum notes. Both changes in social behaviour and in the development of subsistence behaviour were observed following release of the chimpanzees onto the island. Rates of aggression decreased following release, whereas rates of social grooming increased. Rates of social play decreased overall, but this was due to a decrease in social play by adults. Stereotyped or abnormal behaviour shown by some subjects declined. Subsistence behaviours which were observed following release were foraging for naturally occurring foods (leaves, fruits, seeds, and nuts), ant-eating, and tool-use for nut-cracking. Some subjects were also seen building sleeping-nests in trees. The chimpanzees also split into subgroups (including consortships) which showed similar trends in size and composition to those observed in wild populations of chimpanzees. Some techniques found to be useful during the release process are discussed, and the study is compared to previous primate release projects.
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McGreevy, Thomas Joseph. "Conservation genetics of Association of Zoos and Aquariums and wild Matschie's tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus Matschiei) from Huon Peninsula, Papua New Guinea /." View online ; access limited to URI, 2009. http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/dissertations/AAI3368001.
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Stoddart, Ruth (Ruth Ellen). "Activity and aggression in captive blue-winged teal (Anas discors)." Thesis, McGill University, 1985. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=63293.
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Fahlman, Åsa. "Advances in wildlife immobilisation and anaesthesia : clinical and physiological evaluation in selected species /." Uppsala : Dept. of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2008. http://epsilon.slu.se/200884.pdf.
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Tisdall, Carol. "Aggression among captive mallards and black ducks during the breeding season." Thesis, McGill University, 1995. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=23302.
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The behaviour of captive mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and black ducks (Anas rubripes) was studied from the end of March to mid-June in 1991 and 1992 to determine the extent of interspecific aggression exhibited and the effect of sympatry and allopatry on interactions between the two species.Mallards were more aggressive than black ducks regardless of sex and origin, though both species were equally attacked in both years, male ducks were more aggressive and more attacked than female ducks regardless of species and origin in both years, and ducks of sympatric origin were more aggressive than ducks of allopatric origin in 1991 regardless of sex and species while the opposite was true in 1992.
Site attachment was observed in 7 of 9 experiments performed in 1992. In the experiments involving site attachment, almost all of the activity centered around the feeding stations, not around the nesting platforms.
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Maruping, Nkabeng Thato. "The re-introduction of captive bred cheetah into a wild environment, Makulu Makete Wildlife Reserve, Limpopo province, South Africa." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/26057.
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The conservation benefits of animals in captivity are limited to education and genetic preservation. However, where species or sub-species are critically endangered, the release of captive bred animals into the wild can be used as a strategy to supplement existing populations or to form new founder populations. Cheetahs Acinonyx jubatus born in captivity have no prior experience of survival in wild circumstances. Captive bred cheetahs are currently the greatest source of individuals. This project worked in conjunction with IUCN reintroduction guidelines and pre-existing recommendations in an attempt to develop an ideal methodology of reintroducing captive bred cheetah into the wild. Three captive bred cheetahs, one female and two males, were reintroduced onto Makulu Makete Wildlife Reserve, a predator proofed reserve in the Limpopo province of South Africa, as part of an experimental rehabilitation project. The cheetahs had to lose their homing instinct, be habituated to researchers, become accustomed to eating venison, chewing skin, infrequent large meals and strength development within the three months spent in the enclosures. The cheetahs were habituated to the field researchers on foot and to research vehicles for ease of monitoring. A soft release methodology was used to ease the cheetahs into the environment. Upon release they were tracked twice daily to observe behavior and interaction with their environment. The duration of the project was 20 months which includes enclosure time. The establishment of a home range indicated that the resource need of the cheetahs was satisfied. Eight habitat types were identified in the study area and all cheetahs encompassed part of each in their home range. Though the hunting instinct was present in all the cheetahs, the appropriate hunting techniques and prey selection had to be learned overtime. There was no difference between what was stalked and what was caught. From the observed kills, prey weight ranged from small <40 kg to medium <160 kg. This weight range is comparable to wild cheetahs that select prey within the same range. Each cheetah hunted every four to five days and consumed three to five kilograms of meat per day. Nine prey species were identified, two of which were not detected during direct observations. In the collection of scat, the trained dog found approximately a scat per hour while each direct observation by the researchers took approximately 10 hours. These captive bred cheetahs had to learn how to hunt and how to select appropriate prey thus addressing learned behavior versus instinct. Given the frequency and intensity of injuries sustained and the extensive human influence in the form of veterinary treatment, the reintroduction was not a success. However the techniques developed and modified are relevant for future endeavors‟.Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2011.
Animal and Wildlife Sciences
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Kelling, Angela Swilley. "An examination of salivary cortisol concentrations and behavior in three captive african elephants (loxodonta africana) at zoo atlanta." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/26586.
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Salivary cortisol is becoming an effective method with which to quantify cortisol levels, including the ability to track diurnal patterns and acute stress fluctuations. The purpose of this study was to validate salivary cortisol for use in African elephants (Loxodonta Africana), establish baseline cortisol values in three African elephants at Zoo Atlanta and explore the relationship between cortisol and various behaviors and husbandry events. Elephant salivary cortisol was found to be a valid measure based on correlations with serum cortisol and serial dilution results. Salivary cortisol also decreased across the day, but no definitive patterns were revealed. Using baseline values, salivary cortisol was used to examine the effects of enrichment, maintenance and novel training, and a mild stressor. Maintenance training was found to lead to lower cortisol values than novel training. Salivary cortisol after enrichment did not differ from individual overall means. The mild stressor initiated a rise in salivary cortisol. The final focus of this study was to investigate the link between salivary cortisol and stereotypic behavior. Stereotypies are described as repetitive behaviors with little variance and no discernible function or goal. There is not a straightforward relationship between stereotypies and welfare. Analysis of salivary cortisol at various durations into swaying bouts established that swaying appears to decrease cortisol levels. Additionally, behavioral data were collected. Behavioral data confirmed anecdotal reports of circular dominance in these animals. Behavioral data also revealed that although these individuals spend the majority of their time consuming food, one individual in particular devotes a significant amount of her time to swaying, a percentage much higher than that found when Wilson, Bloomsmith, and Maple (2004) examined stereotypic swaying rates in these same animals. Results of this study have direct ramifications for the current management requirements for captive elephants around the world. It helps tap into aspects of psychological well being of captive elephants to elucidate factors influencing welfare and stereotypic behavior. Research of this nature is a critical endeavor if we are to appropriately manage these magnificent animals in captivity.
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Roberts, Anna I. "Emerging language : cognition and gestural communication in wild and language trained chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)." Thesis, University of Stirling, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/3091.
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An important element in understanding the evolutionary origin of human language is to explore homologous traits in cognition and communication between primates and humans (Burling, 1993, Hewes, 1973). One proposed modality of language evolution is that of gestural communication, defined as communicative movements of hands without using or touching objects (de Waal, 2003). While homologies between primate calls and language have been relatively well explored, we still have a limited understanding of how cognitive abilities may have shaped the characteristics of primate gestures (Corballis, 2003). Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are our closest living relatives and display some complex cognitive skills in various aspects of their gestural behaviour in captivity (de Waal, 2003, Pollick and de Waal, 2007). However, it is not yet currently clear to what extent these abilities seen in captive apes are typical of chimpanzees in general and to what extent cognitive capacities observed in captive chimpanzees have been enhanced by the socio-cultural environment of captivity such as language training. In this Ph.D. research, I investigated the cognitive skills underlying gestural communication in both wild and language trained chimpanzees, with a special focus on the repertoire and the intentionality of production and comprehension. The study of cognitive skills underlying the production of the repertoire and the role of intentionality is important because these skills are cognitively demanding and are a prerequisite in human infants for their ability to acquire language (Baldwin, 1995, Olson, 1993). My research suggests that chimpanzee gestural communication is cognitively complex and may be homologous with the cognitive skills evident in pre-verbal infants on the cusp of language acquisition. Chimpanzees display a multifaceted and complex signal repertoire of manual gestures. These gestures are the prototypes, within which there is variation, and between which the boundaries are not clear-cut, but there is gradation apparent along several morphological components. Both wild and language trained chimpanzees communicate intentionally about their perceived desires and the actions that they want the recipients to undertake. They do not just express their emotions, but they communicate flexibly by adjusting their communicative tactics in response to the comprehension states of the recipient. Whilst chimpanzees communicate their intentions flexibly, the messages conveyed are specific. However, recipients comprehend gestures flexibly in light of the signaller’s overall intentions. Whilst wild and language trained chimpanzee gestural communication revealed similar cognitive characteristics, language trained chimpanzees outperformed wild apes in that they had ability to use signals which made distinctions that human deictic words can make. Whilst these differences between wild and language trained chimpanzees may be due to the different methodological approaches used, it is conceivable that language training may have influenced captive ape cognitive skills in the representational domain. These results from wild and language trained chimpanzees indicate that chimpanzees possess some form of cognitive skills necessary for language development and that cognitive skills underlying repertoire and use in chimpanzees are a shared capacity between humans, other apes and a common ancestor. These findings render theories of the gestural origins of language more plausible. Related publications: 1. Roberts, A. I., Vick, S.-J., Roberts, S. G. B., Buchanan-Smith, H. M. & Zuberbühler, K. 2012. A structure-based repertoire of manual gestures in wild chimpanzees: Statistical analyses of a graded communication system. Evolution and Human Behavior, Published online: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2012.05.006 2. Roberts, A. I., Vick, S.-J. & Buchanan-Smith, H. 2012. Usage and comprehension of manual gestures in wild chimpanzees. Animal Behaviour, Published online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2012.05.022
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Horta, Marta Morais Miranda de Oliveira. "Anestesia de animais selvagens em cativeiro : carnívoros e ungulados." Master's thesis, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/4872.
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Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina VeterináriaDe forma a examinar, diagnosticar e tratar adequadamente qualquer animal selvagem, é necessário aplicar métodos apropriados de contenção. A contenção química tem vindo a substituir os vários métodos de contenção física, sendo eficaz, fácil de aplicar, e muitas vezes mais rápida e eficiente. Assim, a anestesia constitui uma ferramenta essencial no maneio de animais selvagens, usada principalmente com vista à sua captura/imobilização. Neste contexto, o objectivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficácia de um conjunto de procedimentos anestésicos na imobilização de animais selvagens em cativeiro. Foram avaliadas as metodologias utilizadas em 34 animais mamíferos de 14 espécies diferentes, reunidos genericamente em dois grupos – Carnívoros (6 espécies) e Ungulados (8 espécies). Assim, dois animais foram imobilizados através de anestesia por inalação (com isoflurano), ao passo que para os restantes se recorreu à anestesia injectável, através de combinações anestésicas constituídas por dois ou mais fármacos (entre ciclohexaminas, opióides, agonistas α2-adrenérgicos e benzodiazepinas). Todos os carnívoros foram eficazmente imobilizados com os protocolos anestésicos seleccionados, mas, entre os ungulados, as combinações anestésicas usadas em algumas espécies revelaram-se inadequadas, designadamente em muflões africanos (Ammotragus lervia), guanacos (Lama guanicoe) e zebras da planície (Equus burchelli). Mesmo assim, não se observaram efeitos adversos graves decorrentes do procedimento anestésico (ou do processo de captura) em nenhum dos animais.
ABSTRACT - ANESTHESIA OF WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY – CARNIVORES AND UNGULATES - In order to adequately examine, diagnose and treat any wild animal, it’s imperative to apply suitable restraint methods. Chemical restraint has been replacing the several existing methods of physical restraint, as it is effective, easy to apply, and often faster and more efficient. Therefore, anesthesia stands as an essential tool in wild animal management, mainly used with capture/immobilization purposes. In this context, the goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a number of anesthetic procedures on the immobilization of wild animals in captivity. The methodologies used in 34 mammals belonging to 14 different species were evaluated. These animals were generically assembled in two groups – Carnivores (6 species) and Ungulates (8 species). Two animals were immobilized by inhalation anesthesia (with isoflurane), while the remaining were immobilized by injectable anesthesia, with anesthetic combinations of two or more drugs (amongst cyclohexamines, opioids, α2-adrenergic agonists and benzodiazepines). All of the carnivores were effectively immobilized with the selected anesthetic protocols, but the anesthetic combinations used in some ungulate species proved inadequate, particularly in aoudads (Ammotragus lervia), guanacos (Lama guanicoe) and plains zebras (Equus burchelli). Nevertheless, no animal suffered serious anesthesia-related (or capture-related) adverse effects.
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Botting, Jennifer Lynette. "An investigation of biases in social learning and social attention in wild vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops pygerythrus) and captive tufted capuchins (Sapajus apella)." Thesis, University of St Andrews, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/12260.
Full textAbstract:
Researchers in the field of social learning have suggested that certain biases may exist in whom animals learn from, creating a non-random flow of social information. A number of potential biases have been proposed based upon theoretical models, including biases to copy more dominant individuals or individuals who receive the best payoff from their behaviour, but empirical evidence for these biases is lacking. This thesis presents the first examination of dominance-based bias in a wild population of primates and of a payoff-based bias in captive capuchins. In two field experiments, dominant and low-ranking females from each of three wild groups of vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops pygerythrus) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa were trained to demonstrate contrasting behaviours to their group before observers were provided with a choice between the two modelled preferences. No evidence was found for a consistent bias to copy the behaviour of the dominant female in either experiment. Instead, in both experiments, a preference for one behaviour emerged, regardless of model rank. In the latter experiment, higher-ranking females were significantly more likely to match the dominant model's action than were low-ranking females. The low-ranking models were more likely than their high-ranking counterparts to switch behaviours, despite their trained behaviour continuing to be productive. An analyses of the observations revealed that observers were biased towards attending to kin, and observer age appeared to influence access to the dominant models, but no overall preference to attend to the dominant female was found. Together these findings indicate that kinship, sex, age and preferences for specific behaviours are more important factors than model rank in vervet monkey social learning. Finally, I examined whether captive tufted capuchins (Sapajus apella) utilized a payoff-based social learning bias in their foraging decisions. Subjects did not utilize public information when choosing between demonstrated resource-rich and resource-poor sites, suggesting that the social learning abilities of capuchins may not extend to determining the profitability of feeding sites, although limitations of the study are discussed.
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Sun, Pei. "The Effect of Early Rearing Experience on Adult Reproductive Behavior in Captive Giant Pandas and Spectacled Bears." Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/7618.
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The present study examined the relationship between early rearing experience and reproductive competence in captive adult giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and spectacled bears (Tremarctos ornatus). Life history information of 52 giant pandas and 34 spectacled bears were obtained from the International Studbook and by interviewing staff at institutions housing the subjects. The early rearing experience variables included duration of mother rearing, social access within 1-yr period following maternal separation, and birth origin. Correlation, Chi-square, and logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Contrary to findings from studies with other animals, the results generally suggest that early rearing experience is not related to adult reproductive success in giant pandas and spectacled bears. Alternative explanation and limitation of the study were discussed; suggestions were made for future study.
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Seeley, Kathryn E. "Evaluation and Validation of Measures of Chronic Stress in Ring-tailed Lemurs (Lemur catta)." The Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1492536480829096.
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Tidière, Morgane. "The diversity of actuarial senescence across mammals : demographic data from captive populations reveal the influence of sexual selection." Thesis, Lyon, 2016. http://www.theses.fr/2016LYSE1237/document.
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La sénescence de survie est un processus défini comme le déclin progressif des probabilités de survivre en fonction de l'âge, et caractérisé par deux paramètres clés : l'âge de début de sénescence et le taux de sénescence. En dépit de son caractère délétère sur la fitness, la sénescence est observée chez la plupart des êtres vivants et plusieurs théories évolutives de la sénescence ont été proposées pour expliquer ce paradoxe. Chez les mammifères, il existe une grande diversité de patrons de sénescence de survie entre les espèces, mais aussi entre les sexes. En général, les males sénescent plus tôt et plus vite que les femelles, et vivent donc moins longtemps. Un des objectifs de ma thèse fut d'identifier un (des) facteur(s), qui pourraient expliquer cette diversité aussi bien au niveau inter- que intra-spécifique chez les mammifères. Pour ce faire, j'ai utilisé une approche comparative qui corrige pour la phylogénie, et des données démographiques issues de populations captives (base de données Species360). Ma thèse confirme tout d'abord l'idée commune que les mammifères vivent généralement plus longtemps en captivité qu'en milieu sauvage, mais ce bénéfice est plus important pour les espèces ayant un cycle de vie rapide que pour celles ayant un cycle de vie très lent. De plus, l'intensité de la sélection sexuelle explique en partie les différences de patron de sénescence avec, chez les ruminants, les mâles des espèces polygynes commençant leur sénescence plus tôt et vivant moins longtemps que les mâles des espèces monogames. Cette thèse démontre également l'importance de définir précisément la forme et la force des relations allométriques pour éviter toute erreur d'interprétation. Enfin, mes résultats montrent que les pratiques managériales en zoo, plus que l'allocation à la reproduction, influencent le patron de sénescence de deux espèces de Varis. En conclusion, ma thèse a permis de mettre en évidence l'importance d'inclure les concepts de la sélection sexuelle dans le contexte des théories évolutives actuelles. Enfin, l'étude des facteurs ayant une influence sur le patron de sénescence de survie des espèces menacées, que cela soit en captivité ou dans leur milieu naturel, devrait permettre d'obtenir des informations clés pour aider à la conservation de ces espècesThe process of actuarial senescence is defined as the progressive decline of survival per time unit with increasing age and can be characterized by two keys metrics corresponding to the age at the onset of senescence and the rate of senescence. Despite its detrimental effect in terms of fitness, senescence is a nearly ubiquitous process across the tree of life and several evolutionary theories of senescence have been proposed to solve this apparent paradox. Across mammals, a large diversity of actuarial senescence patterns is observed among species, but also between sexes, with males often living shorter than females. One objective of my Ph.D. was to identify factor(s) influencing survival and actuarial senescence at inter- and intra-specific levels using a phylogenetic comparative approach based on demographic data obtained from captive populations (Species360 database). My thesis first confirms the common belief that mammals in zoos generally outlive their wild counterparts, but fast-living species benefit more of captive condition than slow-living species. In addition, I found that sexual selection intensity partly account for the diversity of actuarial senescence patterns with males of polygynous ruminant senescing earlier and living shorter than males of monogamous ruminants. Moreover, I highlight that evolutionary allometry of sexually selected traits need to be determined accurately to avoid any misinterpretation. Finally, my results confirm that management practices in zoos influence actuarial senescence pattern at intra-specific level in two species of Varecia but not the allocation in reproduction. In conclusion, my Ph.D. highlights the importance to include the concept of sexual selection within the evolutionary framework of current theories of senescence. Finally, the study of factors influencing the actuarial senescence patterns of threatened species is likely to provide key information in conservation projects of these species
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Fernandes, Diana Raquel Neves. "Veterinary medicine in exotic and wild species: behavioral enrichment and management of two captive snow leopards (Panthera uncia uncia)." Master's thesis, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10348/8278.
Full textAbstract:
Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina VeterináriaA comunidade Zoológica tem sofrido alterações marcantes, ao longo das últimas décadas, na conduta diretiva das suas instituições. Apesar de continuarem a ser centros lúdicos com fins lucrativos, objetivos de outra natureza têm, agora, maior prioridade: a conservação da fauna e flora mundiais e a Proteção do Bem-Estar Animal. Inúmeras espécies mantidas em cativeiro têm dificuldade em adaptar-se aos ambientes artificiais em que vivem e em lidar com o stress a que neles são submetidas, acabando por desenvolver distúrbios comportamentais ou aumentar a sua suscetibilidade a fatores de risco que possam exacerbar diversas patologias. A análise comportamental é uma área em desenvolvimento que se tem provado uma ferramenta essencial na avaliação do bem-estar geral dos animais cativos, ao permitir a deteção precoce de problemas comportamentais e a correta intervenção para o maneio e resolução dos mesmos. Neste trabalho, é descrito um estudo comportamental realizado com felinos da espécie Pantera das Neves (Panthera uncia), um macho e uma fêmea residentes no Zoo de Santo Inácio, Portugal, nas quais foram identificados determinados padrões de comportamento anormal como comportamento estereotipado (pacing) por parte do macho, e agressividade, ansiedade e relutância em sair da recolha por parte da fêmea. Os animais foram observados de manhã, à tarde e ao final do dia, recorrendo ao método de amostragem focal contínua, após ser construído um etograma organizado em 8 categorias funcionais de comportamento. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar os efeitos do enriquecimento ambiental no comportamento dos dois indivíduos e determinar se os seus problemas comportamentais poderiam ser assim corrigidos, bem como o seu reportório comportamental aumentado. Paralelamente, foi criado um protocolo de maneio comportamental que tinha como objetivo proceder á introdução gradual dos dois animais com fins reprodutivos. O estudo foi dividido em 3 etapas: Controlo (fase I); Enriquecimento Ambiental (fase II); e Enriquecimento Ambiental e Social (fase III). Os resultados demonstraram diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre as fases para as categorias Afiliativo, Atividade e Agonista no período da manhã, bem como para a categoria Afiliativo no período do fim do dia, para a fêmea. No macho, as categorias que sofreram diferenças estatisticamente significativas incluem Atividade, Marcação, Estereótipo e Afiliativo no período da manhã; Afiliativo nas tardes; e Exploratório e Afiliativo no final do dia.
Parks and Zoological gardens have undergone outstanding changes over the decades. Although they continue to be recreative centers with profitable ends, major goals have won priority: the conservation of worldwide fauna and flora and the protection of animal welfare. Numerous captive species have difficulty coping with the artificial environments in which they live and dealing with the stress they are submitted to. They may, eventually, develop behavioral disorders or increase their susceptibility to risk factors that will exacerbate other pathologies. Behavior analysis is an evolving field that is proving itself as an essential tool in the assessment of the overall welfare of animals in captivity as it enables the early detection of behavioral problems and the use of effective intervention techniques concerning their management and resolution. A behavioral study was conducted in the months December through March in a male and a female of Snow Leopards (Panthera uncia uncia) housed at Saint Inácios’s Zoo in Portugal, in which were identified certain abnormal behavior patterns. The first presented stereotypic behavior (pacing) whereas the second showed signs of aggression, anxiety and reluctance to leave the indoor enclosure. The animals were recorded during the morning, afternoon and evening, using the Continuous Focal Animal Sampling method, after the construction of an Ethogram and its organization into 8 functional behavioral categories. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of environmental enrichment on the behavior of the two individuals and to determine if their behavioral problems could be rectified as well as their behavioral repertoire expanded. A behavioral management protocol was developed simultaneously in order to progressively introduce the animals to each other, bearing in mind reproductive ends. The study was divided into 3 stages: Baseline (phase I); Environmental Enrichment (phase II); and Environmental and Social Enrichment (phase III). Results have shown statistically significant differences between the different phases, for the Affiliative, Active and Agonist categories during morning period, as for Affiliative category in the evening as well, regarding the female. In the male, categories which suffered statistically significant differences included Active, Marking, Stereotypy and Affiliative, during morning; Affiliative in the afternoon; and both Exploratory and Affiliative in the evening.
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Lo, Ya-Wen, and 羅雅文. "Environmental Surveillance of Mycobacterium spp. in Captive Wild Animals." Thesis, 2011. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/24202910086393016361.
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碩士國立臺灣大學
獸醫學研究所
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Tuberculosis is one of the most important zoonotic diseases concerned by general public. From our previous necropsy results, cases of mycobacterial infection and cases of false positive of intradermal tuberculin test (ITT), both could be sporadically present in the zoo. This result would be a severe threat for the public health and the workers of the exhibitions as well. In order to eradicating mycobacterial infection in zoo animals, environmental surveillance of the contaminating material combined with molecular and routine pathological diagnosis had been conducted. The approach of this study was using PCR to detect hsp 65 gene of bacteria in water and soil, and positive samples were subsequently confirmed by PCR using specific primers for M. tuberculosis and M. bovis respectively. The results showed 68.18 % (60/88) of water samples and 60.67 % (162/267) of soil samples collected from environments of three wildlife exhibitions were hsp 65-positive. The results of PCR for M. tuberculosis and M. bovis detection were both 0 % (0/222) in those hsp 65-positive samples. The sequencing results of hsp 65 gene in these PCR positive samples revealing 7.21 % were Mycobacterium spp., and other bacteria like Nocardioides spp. were also noticeable.
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Yu, Jane-Fang, and 余珍芳. "The Studies of Tuberculosis in Captive Wild Animals and Dairy." Thesis, 1993. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/43097007427779526235.
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Lockyear, Karen Maria. "An exploration of fecundity in captive red wolves (Canis rufus) : implications for population management /." 2006. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:NR29507.
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Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2006. Graduate Programme in Biology.Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 332-335). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:NR29507
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Stokke, Michelle M. "Would you leave them behind? : disaster preparedness for live animals in museum collections /." 2007. http://library2.jfku.edu/Museum_Studies/Would_You_Leave_Them_Behind.pdf.
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Kettles, Ross. "The management of free-ranging lions on enclosed protected areas." Thesis, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/2589.
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This Research investigates the potential impacts that free-ranging lions have
within a small (<100 000 hectare), enclosed protected area, and it also
investigates the subsequent challenges to the managers of areas such as
these. A comprehensive literature review reveals that the smaller the
protected area, the more intensively it needs to be managed via active
adaptive management, because perimeter fences do not allow for immigration
and emigration. The consequences of this are over-population; inbreeding
depression; the decline of prey and other predator species; conflict with
neighbouring communities as a result of break-outs; and, in some cases, the
spreading of intra- and interspecies disease. Lions are very proficient breeders
and, in all cases investigated, reserves exceeded their local carrying capacity
within a relatively short period of time.
A range of management interventions can potentially achieve short- and/or
long-term reserve objectives. These interventions include relocation,
contraception, hunting and artificial takeovers. These interventions are
described in terms of the preparation required, the biological consequences
and the sociological influences.Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.
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Grey, Rebecca Victoria. "Aspects of the conservation of oribi (Ourebia ourebi) in KwaZulu-Natal." Thesis, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/5514.
Full textAbstract:
The oribi Ourebia ourebi is probably South Africa's most endangered
antelope. As a specialist grazer, it is extremely susceptible to habitat loss and the
transformation of habitat by development. Another major threat to this species is
illegal hunting. Although protected and listed as an endangered species in South
Africa, illegal poaching is widespread and a major contributor to decreasing oribi
populations. This study investigated methods of increasing oribi populations by using
translocations and reintroductions to boost oribi numbers and by addressing overhunting.
Captive breeding has been used as a conservation tool as a useful way of
keeping individuals of a species in captivity as a backup for declining wild
populations. In addition, most captive breeding programmes are aimed at eventually
being able to reintroduce certain captive-bred individuals back into the wild to
supplement wild populations. This can be a very costly exercise and often results in
failure. However, captive breeding is a good way to educate the public and create
awareness for the species and its threats. Captive breeding of oribi has only been
attempted a few times in South Africa, with varied results. A private breeding
programme in Wartburg, KwaZulu-Natal was quite successful with the breeding of
oribi. A reintroduction programme for these captive-bred oribi was monitored using
radio telemetry to assess the efficacy of such a programme for the oribi. As with many
reintroductions of other species, this one was not successful and resulted in many
mortalities. However, many variables have been identified that contributed to the
failure of this programme and they can be adapted to increase the chances that captive
breeding and reintroduction be a viable conservation tool for oribi.
Besides captive breeding and reintroductions, the translocation of wild animals
can also be effective in sustaining wild populations. Translocations usually appreciate
a higher rate of success than reintroductions. A translocation of wild oribi was
attempted in this study. This involved the translocation of four males and eleven
females and a year-long monitoring programme. This translocation proved to be
extremely successful in establishing a sustainable wild population of oribi with few
mortalities and several births. However, such translocations can only be attempted
when there is suitable habitat and high security from poaching.
One source of oribi for the translocation part of the study was from a housing
estate that had a high density population of oribi. The existence of such a thriving
population of animals on what is often a controversial type of development led to a
case study investigation. Housing developments are increasing in size and in numbers
in South Africa, and are rarely held accountable for the destruction caused to local
habitat or wildlife. This case study used this housing estate as an example of
development and conservation cooperating and enjoying the success of a thriving
population of endangered oribi. Many variables have been identified that contribute to
the success of this venture and that could be used as a requisite for planned housing
developments in the future. In particular, clustering of houses to leave open wild areas
that are managed ecologically.
Finally, the issue of illegal hunting was identified as a very serious threat to
oribi conservation. Using surveys, residents of rural settlements and landowners were
probed about this issue so that a demographic profile of hunters could be created. This
profile could then be used to make recommendations on ways to slow the spread of
illegal hunting as well as educate hunters and conservation laws. The results showed
that many rural people hunt on a regular basis and most hunt with dogs. It also
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showed that there is a high level of ignorance amongst these people on the laws
concerning conservation and wildlife species.
It was concluded from this study that captive breeding and reintroduction of
oribi might be a way to enhance wild populations, but might be more useful in
creating public awareness. Translocation, on the other hand, was extremely successful
as a way of saving doomed populations and augmenting stable ones. However, it
requires suitable and protected habitat. Using housing estates as havens for
endangered species is an option but only if the right legislation is passed and
cooperation demanded with large portions of land remaining undeveloped.
Addressing illegal hunting is the most important, and possibly the most difficult
hurdle for oribi conservation besides habitat destruction. Finally, recommendations
for oribi conservation and management were made based on the results from this
study.Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.