Simple SummaryFree-range sloths living in an urban environment are rare. In this study, opinions, attitudes, and interactions with a population of Bradypus variegatus were investigated through short, structured interviews and informal, opportunistic observations of people in the pubic square where the sloths live. A questionnaire was applied to people in the square where the sloths live. Opinions about population size differed greatly and younger people were concerned as to whether the square was an appropriate place for them. Some human-sloth interactions showed the consequences of a lack of biological knowledge. Sloths are strictly folivorous and are independent of human sources of food. Apparently, sloths are indifferent to humans. Despite the good intentions of people, there are many misconceptions about the behaviour and needs of sloths, which causes low wellbeing for the animals. These results demonstrate that actions in environmental education of the public could be beneficial for sloths.AbstractFree-range sloths living in an urban environment are rare. In this study, the opinions, attitudes, and interactions with a population of Bradypus variegatus were investigated through short, structured interviews of people in the pubic square where the sloths live, in addition to informal, opportunistic observations of human-sloth interactions. A questionnaire was applied to people in the square where the sloths reside, and informal, opportunistic observations of human-sloth interactions were made. 95% of respondents knew of the sloths’ existence in the square and 87.8% liked their presence. Opinions about population size differed greatly and younger people were concerned as to whether the square was an appropriate place for them. Some human-sloth interactions showed the consequences of a lack of biological knowledge. People initiated all sloth-human interactions. The fact that sloths are strictly folivorous has avoided interactions with humans and, consequently, mitigated any negative impacts of the human-animal interaction on their wellbeing. These results demonstrate that, while there is a harmonious relationship between people and sloths, actions in environmental education of the square’s public could be beneficial for the sloths.
Background and Aim: The brown-throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus) is widely distributed in three biomes: The Amazon, Atlantic Forest, and Caatinga. Some subpopulations are isolated in urban areas in Brazil, usually in squares and small woods. Due to the scarcity of reference values, an investigation was carried out on the hematology and blood biochemistry of brown-throated sloths from urban areas. Materials and Methods: Blood was collected by venipuncture in the femoral vein from 19 brown-throated sloths for hematological and biochemical analyses, living in two municipalities; Teófilo Otoni (TO) (Minas Gerais State) and Rio Tinto (RT) (Paraíba state), in the Atlantic Forest biome, Brazil. The samples were analyzed in specialized veterinary laboratories using automatic cell counters and slide fixation staining methods. Results: The two subpopulations of brown-throated sloths had no significant differences in most hematological values, with the exception of a higher leukocyte concentration (p<0.01) in the RT sub-population. The difference in leukocyte concentration suggests an idiosyncratic effect, as the animals were healthy and the stress of the capture was acute, not chronic. The concentrations of urea, creatinine, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were similar (p<0.05) in brown-throated sloths from TO and RT. Likewise, the liver enzyme concentrations (ALP, alanine transaminase [ALT], and aspartate transaminase [AST]) did not differ between the two subpopulations (p<0.05). Conclusion: Compared to another study, brown-throated sloths from TO and RT have higher plasma concentrations of ALT and ALP, suggestive of a hepatic overload. Hematological and blood biochemical findings of TO and RT can be used as clinical reference values for brown-throated sloths living in an urban environment.
In this study, the home range and social composition of two groups of hybrid marmosets in an urban forest fragment were reported. The georeferenced positions of two groups of hybrid marmosets (G19 and G50) were recorded by the Instantaneous Scan Sampling method, every 15 minutes during 11 months, at Viçosa town, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The home range was estimated at 2.51 ha and 3.98 ha, respectively for group G19 and G50, by the minimum convex polygon method. The G19 group presented a mode of eight individuals (variance was from 7 to 11), while G50 group presented a mode of six individuals (variance was from 5 to 7). Hybrid marmosets presented a home range size similar to the ones recorded for Callithrix jacchus and C. penicillata. The size of the groups is in agreement with that reported for the genus Callithrix. This is the first description of hybrid marmosets’ home range. Keywords: Callithrichidae. Ecology. Home Range. Urban Forest Fragment. Resumo Neste estudo, relatamos a área de vida e a composição social de dois grupos de saguis híbridos em um fragmento de floresta urbana. As posições georreferenciadas de dois grupos de saguis híbridos (G19 e G50) foram registradas pelo método de amostragem de varredura instantânea, a cada 15 minutos durante 11 meses, na cidade de Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil. A área de vida foi estimada em 2,51 ha e 3,98 ha, respectivamente para os grupos G19 e G50, pelo método do polígono convexo mínimo. O grupo G19 apresentou moda de oito indivíduos (variância de 7 a 11), enquanto o grupo G50 apresentou moda de seis indivíduos (variância de 5 a 7). Os saguis híbridos apresentaram um tamanho de área de vida semelhante aos registrados para Callithrix jacchus e C. penicillata. O tamanho dos grupos está de acordo com o relatado para o gênero Callithrix. Esta é a primeira descrição da área de vida de saguis híbridos. Palavras-chave: Callithrichidae. Ecologia. Área de Vida. Fragmento Urbano Florestal.
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.
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