Behavior of giant pandas (<i>Ailuropoda melanoleuca</i>) in captive conditions: Gender differences and enclosure effects

Liu, Dingzhen; Wang, Zhipeng; Tian, Haifeng; Chen, Yu; Zhang, Guiquan; Wei, Rongping; Zhang, Heming

doi:10.1002/zoo.10076

Cited by 28 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The observation period was accordingly selected for 30 min, from 15:00-15:30 hr, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from March-July 2003. The selection of the time period was intended to avoid the daily inactive period in captive pandas [Mainka and Zhang, 1994;Liu et al, 2002;Liu et al, 2003]. We obtained data from 20 days of observation on four adult pandas during the pre-estrous period, 13 days during the estrous period, and 9 days during the post-estrous period because of the temporary closing of the zoo during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in Beijing.…”

Section: Behavioral Observationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The female is especially sensitive to noise during estrus and lactation in Owen et al's study [2004]. An environmental enrichment program, such as a puzzle feeder and a burlap sack full of straw, or a large semi-natural enclosure can significantly reduce the time pandas spend in performing stereotypic behavior Liu et al, 2003]. Despite these observations and studies, we still have limited knowledge about the relationship between stereotypic behavior and elevated cortisol level in captive giant pandas, or the effect of elevated cortisol level on their reproduction.…”

Section: Relationship Between Elevated Glucocorticoids Level and Behamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Captive pandas often perform stereotypic behavior including head-bobbing, pacing and food anticipatory stereotypy Liu et al, 2003]. It has been proposed that these stereotypic behavior patterns in captive pandas are a compensation for, or adaptation to, a restricted, monotonous environment [Morris, 1964].…”

Section: Relationship Between Elevated Glucocorticoids Level and Behamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stereotypic behavior and fecal cortisol level in captive giant pandas in relation to environmental enrichment

et al. 2006

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Stereotypic behavior is exhibited by a wide range of captive animals. Its association with hormones, especially elevated cortisol level and lack of naturalistic stimuli in the environment, has been little studied. This study hypothesizes that stereotypic behavior is caused by stress due to lack of appropriate, naturalistic stimuli in the environment. Using four adult pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in the Beijing Zoo from March-July in 2003, we tested the following predictions: 1) stereotypic behavior and fecal cortisol level will not change associated with the progress of reproductive state; 2) there is a positive correlation between the occurrence of stereotypic behavior and fecal cortisol level; and 3) environmental enrichment by adding a naturalistic stimulus will reduce both stereotypic behavior and fecal cortisol level. We did not find any significant differences in the occurrence of stereotypic behavior and fecal cortisol level but did find a significant difference in the total time engaged in displaying the stereotypic behavior among the three estrous periods. The level of stereotypic behavior was correlated with elevated fecal cortisol level. Enrichment simply by adding a naturalistic stimulus did not show significant effects on stereotypic behavior, or on fecal cortisol level. Our results supported the second prediction, but did not completely support the first and the third ones perhaps because of the small sample size. Additionally, our results showed that stereotypic behavior might be a response to a heightened level of cortisol.

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Section: Behavioral Observationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Relationship Between Elevated Glucocorticoids Level and Behamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Relationship Between Elevated Glucocorticoids Level and Behamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stereotypic behavior and fecal cortisol level in captive giant pandas in relation to environmental enrichment

et al. 2006

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“…This female was rescued from Pingwu County in Sichuan province, China, in 1994 and kept at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) at Wolong, China. Details of housing, diet and management are available elsewhere [Zhang et al, 2000;Liu et al, 2003]. The female gave birth to twin cubs in 1997, but did not provide maternal care.…”

Section: Animals and Housingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhancing captive breeding in giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca): maintaining lactation when cubs are rejected, and understanding variation in milk collection and associated factors

Wei¹,

Zhang²,

Feng³

et al. 2009

Zoo Biology

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From 1997 to 2002, a female giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) was artificially stimulated and lactation was maintained, after her neonates were removed due to the female's inability to provide maternal care. Milk samples were collected and the amount of milk collected was quantified. The lactation curve of this animal was estimated based on the Gamma function: Y(t)=at(b)e(-ct). The amount of milk collected showed significant, positive relationships with the number of days after parturition both in 1999 and in the whole study period from 1998 to 2002. This female's lactation curves fit the type I pattern of a typical mammalian lactation curve. Daily milk collection (g) during the first 30 days after parturition, and from 31 to 60 days after parturition, showed a consistent pattern with one peak at around 8:00 hr. More milk was collected during the latter period than during the former period. The amount of milk (g) collected on mucus excretion days was significantly less than that on days after mucus excretion had ended, yet no significant difference was found between milk collected one day before mucus days and on mucus days, or between milk collected one day before and one day after mucus days. Mucus excretion from the gastrointestinal tract significantly impacted the amount of milk collected. The results from this study may aid the captive propagation and conservation of giant pandas and other endangered and rare captive mammal species.

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“…Focal males and females were examined during estrus. At this facility, animals are individually housed in typical indoor/outdoor enclosures [36] that are cleaned daily from 07:30-09:00 hours. Animals were fed twice daily (morning and afternoon) fresh bamboo and a mix of corn, bamboo powder, soybean and egg.…”

Section: Animalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cross-modal signaling in giant pandas

Wang

Liu

et al. 2012

Chin. Sci. Bull.

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For solitary species that aggregate to breed, signals, such as sound or odor, transmitted across the landscape can play an important role in mate choice and coordinating breeding activity. Recent work on vocalizations of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), bleats and chirps that are emitted during periods of reproductive activity, has revealed that auditory communication in this species is more complicated and developed than once believed. However, playback experiments using these calls have recorded only a few behaviors over short observation times and the influence of these calls on the signaling behavior of receivers remains unknown. Here, we present results from a pilot study in which we played the bleats of male and female giant pandas in estrus to captive animals and measured vocal and chemical signaling response behavior. We found an increase in scent marking behavior, but not vocalizations, in males and females following the playback of calls made by members of the opposite sex in estrus. To our knowledge, this is the first study to detect a chemical communication response, which was marking, to an auditory signal in giant pandas. Our findings reveal a previously unknown relationship between acoustic and chemical signals in this high profile species and suggest that these two forms of signaling may be interdependent in the social lives of giant pandas. Ailuropoda melanoleuca, auditory communication, chemical communication, multiple modality, giant panda Citation: Xu M, Wang Z P, Liu D Z, et al. Cross-modal signaling in giant pandas.

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Behavior of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in captive conditions: Gender differences and enclosure effects

Cited by 28 publications

References 7 publications

Stereotypic behavior and fecal cortisol level in captive giant pandas in relation to environmental enrichment

Stereotypic behavior and fecal cortisol level in captive giant pandas in relation to environmental enrichment

Enhancing captive breeding in giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca): maintaining lactation when cubs are rejected, and understanding variation in milk collection and associated factors

Cross-modal signaling in giant pandas

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