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Zoo Animals: How Actual Zoological Institutions Assess, Ensure, and Promote Their Animals’ Welfare?

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A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Zoo Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2025 | Viewed by 14553

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Fabienne Delfour

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Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, 23 Chemin des Capelles, Toulouse, France
Interests: ethology; cognition; phenomenology; animal welfare; human-animal relations; marine mammals
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Zoological institutions communicate on their efforts to ensure a high quality of life for the animals under their care. They also communicate on their actions to assess, maintain, and promote animal welfare and their involvement in conservation projects. Assessing animal welfare requires studying the individuals’ physiology, behaviors, and cognitions. Many institutions set up their own evaluation grids, implement enrichment programs, and ask their animal professionals to gain special training on animal behavior and welfare.

Many scientific projects on zoo animal behaviors, cognition, emotions, and welfare are conducted in zoological parks, along with scientific inquiries on the relationship between the caregivers and the animals they work with and on the interactions between visitors and animals. This Special Issue aims to give an update on what is happening today in modern zoos in terms of animal studies, animal welfare, human–animal relationships and interactions, and conservation programs.

We invite original research papers and reviews or studies focused on but not limited to: the behavioral, physiological, and cognitive aspects of animals under human care, the enrichment methods contributing to the welfare of these animals, novel methods used to improve the life in zoos, and the role of zoos in conservation.

Dr. Fabienne Delfour
Guest Editor

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Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

zoo
behavior
enrichment
captivity
stressors
welfare of animals in captivity
restricted mobility
effects of stressors on animal behaviour
non-living sources of stress, captivity-specific stressors
socialisation
social interaction

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

22 pages, 7393 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Making Noah’s Ark Work for Fishing Cat Conservation: A Blueprint for Connecting Populations across an Interactive Wild Ex Situ Spectrum

by Tiasa Adhya, Simran Singh, Himaja Varma Gottumukkala, Aditya Banerjee, Ishita Chongder, Sulata Maity and P. Anuradha Reddy

Animals 2024, 14(19), 2770; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14192770 - 25 Sep 2024

Viewed by 1674

Abstract

The One Plan Approach advocates for a hybrid species management framework, wherein captive-bred populations are considered metapopulations nested within a broader network of zoos and wild populations Additionally, the Opportunities to Thrive framework aims to enhance animal welfare by addressing the physiological, psychological, and emotional needs of captive individuals, thereby improving conservation outcomes. Here, we present an integrated framework for the conservation of a globally threatened wetland wild cat species, the fishing cat, by synthesizing optimal ex situ management practices and in situ conservation strategies. Further, we examined the genetic constitution of the founder population in a fishing cat captive breeding program that was recently initiated by the West Bengal Zoo Authority, India and conducted a population viability analysis to suggest how best to maintain the genetic diversity of the population. We found that the present genetic diversity of 56% and maximum carrying capacity of the captive population (30 individuals) can be maintained for more than 100 years with a combination of supplementation and harvesting. Keeping stochastic events in mind, the introduction of two adult males and females to the existing population each year will seamlessly allow the harvesting of two adult males and two adult females every alternate year to supplement wild populations. Further, we adopted the proposed integrated framework to delineate recommendations for the supplementation of wild populations in West Bengal. We used environmental criteria known to influence fishing cat occurrence to identify 21 potential reintroduction zones in the Sundarbans landscape and Terai region in northern West Bengal with habitable areas for the fishing cat that are larger than the maximum known species’ home range. Our study is timely and insightful because it provides a holistic blueprint for implementing the One Plan Approach in safeguarding a threatened species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoo Animals: How Actual Zoological Institutions Assess, Ensure, and Promote Their Animals’ Welfare?)

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16 pages, 5928 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Detailed Comparison of Acoustic Signals from Rehabilitated and Wild Franciscanas (Pontoporia blainvillei) Dolphins

by Gisela Vanina Giardino, Mel Cosentino, Agustina Camila Macchi, Juan Pablo Loureiro, Sergio Rodriguez Heredia, Karina Ceilia Alvarez, Sergio Gabriel Moron and Diego Horacio Rodriguez

Animals 2024, 14(16), 2436; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162436 - 22 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1208

Abstract

The franciscana dolphin is a small, vulnerable species often caught in artisanal gillnets. This study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of their acoustic capabilities by using advanced equipment to collect a large dataset of wideband, continuous recordings. We examined the detailed acoustic signals of franciscana dolphins, comparing the sounds from rehabilitated dolphins in captivity with those of wild dolphins near fishing nets. Significant differences in acoustic characteristics were found between neonates and older dolphins, with juvenile and wild dolphins showing similar features. For the first time, repetition patterns in click production were identified, highlighting the importance of understanding the context of these sounds in regards to feeding and communication. This study emphasizes the need for detecting neonates for species protection and suggests the potential for developing acoustic classifiers specific to different age groups. Our findings offer valuable insights for conservation efforts and the development of protection strategies for franciscana dolphins. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoo Animals: How Actual Zoological Institutions Assess, Ensure, and Promote Their Animals’ Welfare?)

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39 pages, 2777 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Approach to Assessing and Promoting Animal Welfare in Collaboration with Universities

by Kristine M. Gandia, Jo Elliott, Simon Girling, Sharon E. Kessler and Hannah M. Buchanan-Smith

Animals 2024, 14(15), 2223; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14152223 - 31 Jul 2024

Viewed by 1557

Abstract

Good zoos have four aims—to conserve species, educate the public, engage in research, and provide recreation—all of which can only be achieved when underpinned by high animal welfare standards. In this paper, we share the approach that The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park take to animal welfare. We highlight the role that animal welfare research, in collaboration with universities, has had in enabling the zoo to take an evidence-based approach to welfare and to put findings into practice. We share the collaborative process through which we developed and piloted the current animal welfare assessment tools, how they were validated, and how they were tested for reliability as part of a long-term collaboration between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and the University of Stirling: (1) the RZSS Welfare Assessment Tool, a 50-question animal welfare assessment adapted from the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) Toolkit; and (2) the Stirling Toolkit, a package of evidence-based resources for behavioural-data collection. Our aim is to facilitate standardised, evidence-based approaches to assessing animal welfare which, when finalised, can be used collaboratively across zoos. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoo Animals: How Actual Zoological Institutions Assess, Ensure, and Promote Their Animals’ Welfare?)

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18 pages, 2079 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Validating a Non-Invasive Method for Assessing Cortisol Concentrations in Scraped Epidermal Skin from Common Bottlenose Dolphins and Belugas

by Clara Agustí, Xavier Manteca, Daniel García-Párraga and Oriol Tallo-Parra

Animals 2024, 14(9), 1377; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14091377 - 3 May 2024

Viewed by 2133

Abstract

Society is showing a growing concern about the welfare of cetaceans in captivity as well as cetaceans in the wild threatened by anthropogenic disturbances. The study of the physiological stress response is increasingly being used to address cetacean conservation and welfare issues. Within it, a newly described technique of extracting cortisol from epidermal desquamation may serve as a non-invasive, more integrated measure of a cetacean’s stress response and welfare. However, confounding factors are common when measuring glucocorticoid hormones. In this study, we validated a steroid hormone extraction protocol and the use of a commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA) test to measure cortisol concentrations in common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) epidermal samples. Moreover, we examined the effect of sample mass and body location on cortisol concentrations. Validation tests (i.e., assay specificity, accuracy, precision, and sensitivity) suggested that the method was suitable for the quantification of cortisol concentrations. Cortisol was extracted from small samples (0.01 g), but the amount of cortisol detected and the variability between duplicate extractions increased as the sample mass decreased. In common bottlenose dolphins, epidermal skin cortisol concentrations did not vary significantly across body locations while there was a significant effect of the individual. Overall, we present a contribution towards advancing and standardizing epidermis hormone assessments in cetaceans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoo Animals: How Actual Zoological Institutions Assess, Ensure, and Promote Their Animals’ Welfare?)

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15 pages, 1044 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Network Analysis as a Tool in the Care and Wellbeing of Zoo Animals: A Case Study of a Family Group of Black Lemurs (Eulemur macaco)

by Max Norman, Cassie Jones, Kara Watson and Renato L. Previdelli

Animals 2023, 13(22), 3501; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13223501 - 13 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1673

Abstract

Social network analysis (SNA) is an increasingly utilised technique in the literature examining the social structures and organisation of animals and understanding the bonds between groups and individuals. Using a case study as an illustration, the applications of SNA are explored, including the identification of dominance hierarchies and detection of sources of social pressure, with a particular focus on the applications of SNA to holistic assessments of animal welfare alongside other methods. Based on the examination of social dynamics in a family group of four black lemurs (Eulemur macaco), a primate whose social organisation is characterised by patterns of female dominance, it is demonstrated that SNA can be used to examine the affiliative and agonistic interactions between individuals living in human care. SNA showed species-typical forms of female dominance that were largely directed towards the two males, characterised by the initiation of aggressive interactions and male submission. More intricate relationships and consistent social roles across networks were revealed through the examination of SNA. It is concluded that SNA has wide-ranging benefits in the assessment of effects of environmental changes, such as informing social management decisions, developing enrichment and intervention programs, and guiding overall improvements to the housing and care of individual animals. SNA, as part of an animal welfare toolbox, could, therefore, be a pivotal technique for modern animal welfare assessment that considers individual animals and their social lives. By sharing a case study of the technique in use, it is hoped that animal collections may adopt similar modern and evidence-based assessment methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoo Animals: How Actual Zoological Institutions Assess, Ensure, and Promote Their Animals’ Welfare?)

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13 pages, 249 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Age and Season on Blood Parameters of Captive Giant Pandas: A Pilot Study

by Ruijie Jiang, Xinyi Zhang, Maohua Xia, Sufen Zhao, Yunsheng Wang, Tianchun Pu, Chenglin Zhang, Zhong Wu, Haihong Xu and Kai Fan

Animals 2023, 13(19), 3023; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13193023 - 26 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1260

Abstract

The giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, serves as a flagship species for biodiversity conservation, embodying the intersection of ecological, evolutionary, and anthropogenic forces shaping the natural world. Hematological parameters serve as crucial indicators for assessing the physiological status of animals. However, our understanding of blood parameters and hemorheology in captive giant pandas under non-anesthetic conditions is limited. In this study, from September 2018 to August 2020, we collected blood samples from captive giant pandas under non-anesthetic conditions. Twelve captive giant pandas, ranging in age from 2 to 28 years, were divided into three groups based on their age, and the variations in basic blood parameters and hemorheological parameters across four seasons were analyzed. This provided baseline data for future blood sample comparisons in non-anesthetized captive giant pandas. Additionally, we observed seasonal changes in hematological morphology, hemorheology, and serum enzymes. Moreover, seasonality had a regulatory effect on hemorheological parameters and negatively impacted blood viscosity. Age influenced changes in serum enzymes, serum protein content, and serum metabolites, indicating differences in overall metabolic processes among giant pandas of different age groups. Whether factors such as season and climate contribute to environmental stress in captive giant pandas requires further investigation. The findings of this study may help to protect the stability of the giant panda population better and provide a reference for the medical care of captive giant pandas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoo Animals: How Actual Zoological Institutions Assess, Ensure, and Promote Their Animals’ Welfare?)

27 pages, 1614 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Responses to Reduced Feeding Frequency in Captive-Born Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus): Implications for Behavioural and Physiological Stress and Gastrointestinal Health

by Kelsey Lee Brown, André Ganswindt, Gerhard Steenkamp and Adrian Stephen Wolferstan Tordiffe

Animals 2023, 13(17), 2783; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13172783 - 31 Aug 2023

Viewed by 2111

Abstract

Unnatural diet composition and frequent feeding regimes may play an aetiological role in the multiple diseases prevalent in captive cheetahs. This study investigated the responses of captive-born (hand-reared) cheetahs (n = 6) to a reduced feeding frequency schedule distinguished by offering larger quantities of food less frequently. The study cheetahs were fed four once-daily meals per week during the 3-week treatment period, followed by a 3-week control period in which they were fed two daily rations six days a week. Total weekly food intake was maintained throughout the study. Variations in behaviour, faecal consistency score (FCS), and faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentration were measured. Less frequent feeding resulted in higher FCS (p < 0.01) and locomotory behaviour (p < 0.05) among the studied cheetahs. Faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentration demonstrated an initial acute stress response to the change in feeding frequency (p < 0.05) and subsequent adaptation. The results of the FCS analysis suggest that the more natural feeding pattern could have benefited the studied cheetahs’ gastrointestinal health without a significant behavioural or physiological stress response overall to the change in feeding frequency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoo Animals: How Actual Zoological Institutions Assess, Ensure, and Promote Their Animals’ Welfare?)

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8 pages, 1017 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Olfactory Enrichment in Hoary Foxes (Lycalopex vetulus LUND 1842): A Case Study

by Milene de Paula Figueira, Ita de Oliveira e Silva and Vanner Boere

Animals 2023, 13(9), 1530; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13091530 - 3 May 2023

Viewed by 1455

Abstract

We have tested a method of olfactory environmental enrichment in hoary foxes used in other wild canids in captivity. The individuals were exposed to four olfactory stimuli (meat, mouse urine, cheese, and egg) that were wrapped in cotton bags outside the enclosures at the zoo for five minutes. Behavioral observations were performed using the focal animal method, and all occurrences were recorded. The pre-exposure phase (Basal), exposure phase (Exp), and post-exposure phase and Basal phase (Pos) were analyzed for a period of five minutes. Behavioral responses were categorized as positive, negative, or other. Positive behavior tended to increase (p = 0.07) from the Basal phase to the Exp phase, but there was no statistical difference (p = 0.31) between the phases. Negative and other behavior did not differ statistically from the Basal phase to the Exp phase (N−, p = 0.32; Ot, p = 0.35) or Basal to the Pos phase (N−, p = 0.18; Ot, p = 0.92). The odors used seemed to elicit positive behavior weakly. Negative behavior was stable for the hoary foxes. The method failed to improve the hoary foxes’ welfare. Because their natural diet is based on insects and fruits, it is suggested that the stimuli used in this study have no appetitive value for hoary foxes. The method used with the same olfactory stimuli that were successful in other canid species is unsuitable for hoary foxes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoo Animals: How Actual Zoological Institutions Assess, Ensure, and Promote Their Animals’ Welfare?)

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Review

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17 pages, 1796 KiB

Open AccessReview

Neurobiology and Anatomy of Facial Expressions in Great Apes: Application of the AnimalFACS and Its Possible Association with the Animal’s Affective State

by Adriana Domínguez-Oliva, Cuauhtémoc Chávez, Julio Martínez-Burnes, Adriana Olmos-Hernández, Ismael Hernández-Avalos and Daniel Mota-Rojas

Animals 2024, 14(23), 3414; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14233414 - 26 Nov 2024

Abstract

The Facial Action Coding System (FACS) is an anatomically based system to study facial expression in humans. Currently, it is recognized that nonhuman animals, particularly nonhuman primates, have an extensive facial ethogram that changes according to the context and affective state. The facial expression of great apes, the closest species to humans, has been studied using the ChimpFACS and OrangFACS as reliable tools to code facial expressions. However, although the FACS does not infer animal emotions, making additional evaluations and associating the facial changes with other parameters could contribute to understanding the facial expressions of nonhuman primates during positive or negative emotions. The present review aims to discuss the neural correlates and anatomical components of emotional facial expression in great apes. It will focus on the use of Facial Action Coding Systems (FACSs) and the movements of the facial muscles (AUs) of chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas and their possible association with the affective state of great apes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoo Animals: How Actual Zoological Institutions Assess, Ensure, and Promote Their Animals’ Welfare?)

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