All species of rhinoceros are, to varying degrees, threatened with extinction because of poaching, habitat loss, human‐rhinoceros conflict, hunting and civil unrest. Clearly the threats facing the five remaining species (Black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis, White rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum, Greater one‐horned rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis, Javan rhinoceros Rhinoceros sondaicus and Sumatran rhinoceros Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) are anthropogenic. Although many disciplines are important for conservation, understanding the behaviour characteristics of a species should be considered a key component when developing wildlife‐management and conservation strategies. A general overview of the behaviour of rhinoceros is presented, addressing ecology and social organization, activity and habitat use, feeding strategies, courtship and reproduction, and anti‐predator behaviour. The implications of behavioural studies for successful management and husbandry of rhinoceros in captivity are discussed in sections on group size and composition, enclosure design and enrichment programmes, activity patterns, introductions, reproduction, hand‐rearing, and health and stress. Finally, there is some discussion about the implications of this knowledge for in situ conservation in relation to designing protected areas, further aspects of animal health and stress, and reintroduction and translocation. A detailed understanding of rhinoceros behaviour is important for survival both in range‐country protected areas and captivity, and such knowledge should be used to provide the most appropriate animal care and environments for these species.
Throughout the twentieth century, one of the many reasons people have been drawn to zoos is for the opportunity to interact with less familiar animal species. Major venues of direct human-animal interaction in zoos are animal rides, demonstrations, children's zoos, and public feedings. Visitor interest is so strong in these programs that people are willing to pay additional fees in order to participate in them. In this paper, we discuss how these activities might enhance or detract from the education and conservation missions of zoos, and describe the potential effect of human-animal interactions on zoo animal welfare.
Reptiles are handled during transport, veterinary care, education programs, and as companion animals. This study investigated corticosterone levels (CS), heterophil/lymphocyte ratio (H/L), and behavioral responses to routine handling in the ball python (Python regius) (n=4) and the blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua scincoides) (n=3). We validated the RSL I 1~ Corticosterone Kit for rodents for parallelism and recovery, and found this to be a precise and highly specific means of CS measurement in reptiles. To determine the optimal blood sampling time, animals were sampled throughout a 24-hour cycle under two different light regimens, one a 12L:12D and one in which a red light was on during the dark period. The diurnal pattern of cs did not differ as a result of light regimen. Python peak cs levels occurred at 2400 hours during the peak locomotor activity period and at 1200 hours when body temperature was highest, while skinks showed no significant cs rhythm.Heterophil/lymphocyte ratio values indicated that cardiac puncture did not cause chronic stress although it may be an acute stressor. Animals were then handled gently, manually, or were container restrained (CR) for 10 minutes. Although skink cs was unaffected by treatment, CR caused an elevated level of cs in pythons which may indicate short-term stress. There were no differences in H/L ratio or changes in activity level in either species. Brief periods of routine handling of the study species in captivity thus did not cause chronic stress as measured by CS, H/L ratio, and activity parameters.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.