Behavioral changes in pottos (Perodicticus potto): Effects of naturalizing an exhibit

Frederick, Cheryl; Fernandes, Donna

doi:10.1007/bf02736628

Cited by 51 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The Tropical Forest building contains a nocturnal exhibit housing an adult breeding pair of Pottos (for details on housing and management see Frederick & Fernandes, 1996). Ten years previously, while housed at a large primate research institute, this c. 22 year-old wild-caught 8 had successfully reared an infant.…”

Section: Birth and Initial Carementioning

confidence: 99%

Hand‐rearing a Potto Perodicticus potto at Franklin Park Zoo, Boston

Buckanoff¹,

Frederick

Murphy

2006

International Zoo Yearbook

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In August 2001 a Potto Perodicticus potto was born in the Tropical Forest building of Franklin Park Zoo, Boston. The neonate was removed the following day for hand‐rearing because its mother, which had a history of providing poor infant care, appeared to be neglecting it. Historically, Pottos in captivity have high rates of neonatal mortality that are frequently associated with maternal neglect. This paper gives detailed information about the methods used to hand‐rear this infant successfully. Notes on infant development are presented and the health issues encountered, and medical treatments given, during the first few months are described.

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Section: Birth and Initial Carementioning

confidence: 99%

Hand‐rearing a Potto Perodicticus potto at Franklin Park Zoo, Boston

Buckanoff¹,

Frederick

Murphy

2006

International Zoo Yearbook

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“…Daschbach et al. [] examined behavior in relation to cage size for N. coucang , while Frederick and Fernandes [] focused on exhibit complexity rather than size to study the effects of naturalizing an exhibit occupied by a potto breeding pair. Trent et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Survey of Husbandry Practices for Lorisid Primates in North American Zoos and Related Facilities

et al. 2012

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Zoos and related facilities in North America currently manage five species in the primate family Lorisidae: the greater (Nycticebus coucang), Bengal (N. bengalensis) and pygmy (N. pygmaeus) slow lorises, red slender loris (Loris tardigradus), and potto (Perodicticus potto). We used an online survey to describe institutional housing and husbandry practices for these species and assess the extent to which practices are consistent with established guidelines. Our results show that most captive lorisids are housed solitarily or in pairs. Most individuals occupy a single exhibit space in a building dedicated to nocturnal animals. Facilities are commonly meeting recommendations for abiotic exhibit design and are providing animals with an enriched environment. However, pottos and slender lorises currently occupy exhibit spaces smaller than the recommended minimum, and the impact of cleaning protocols on olfactory communication should be critically evaluated. Few facilities are taking advantage of the benefits of positive reinforcement training for promoting animal welfare. Research is greatly needed on the effects of exhibit lighting on behavior, health, and reproduction; and to determine how best to manage the social needs of lorisids with naturally dispersed social structures. Although captive populations of slender lorises, pottos, and slow lorises are declining, we suggest that improved husbandry knowledge has the potential to positively influence population sustainability and to enhance future efforts to manage the growing pygmy loris population.

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“…Insectivores spend considerable time hunting and presenting such animals food in containers at set feeding times is likely to reduce activity and competence whereas provision of live prey creates opportunity for foraging and honing skills throughout the active period. Provision of insects to captive primates has been shown to influence behavior; activity levels were increased in Perodicticus potto by dispersing food and providing a cricket dispenser placed into a hollow log on the floor and behavioral repertoires including sexual behavior were also promoted [Frederick and Fernandes, 1996]. Provision of foraging opportunities tailored to the known foraging behavior of other insectivorous primates is likely to improve their captive experience by stimulating expression of their natural behaviors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving diet and activity of insectivorous primates in captivity: Naturalizing the diet of Northern Ceylon gray slender loris, Loris lydekkerianus nordicus

2015

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Data on in-situ diet and nutritional requirements should inform the provision of food to captive insectivorous primates. Despite the growing availability of such information an over-reliance on commercially available primate foods and fruit continues in many captive establishments. Wild slender lorises are almost exclusively insectivorous, yet captive conspecifics are fed a primarily frugivorous diet that is likely to contribute to behavioral and health problems. We investigated the effect of naturalizing diet in the Northern Ceylon grey slender loris (Loris lydekkerianus nordicus) by providing live insect prey to a captive group of five individuals. We calculated activity budgets in accordance with six established categories and recorded positional behaviors. We collected data over 30 hours for each of three conditions: pre-enrichment, enrichment, post-enrichment. We hypothesized that increased opportunity for the display of natural behaviors would be stimulated by the dietary enrichment of live insects and made the following predictions; 1) Percentage time spent foraging would increase and time spent inactive would decrease; 2) behavioral repertoires would increase; 3) foraging patterns would be more constant over time with reduced feeding-time peaks. We analyzed time budget and behavioral changes using Friedman tests. We found significant changes in activity budgets with inactivity reduced and foraging levels increased to levels seen in wild slender lorises. We found a significant increase in postures used in foraging and a wider behavioral repertoire. We discuss the benefits of providing free-ranging live food in relation to enhancing the temporal-spatial distribution of food acquisition, satisfying nutritional requirements, balancing energy intake, and expenditure, expanding sensory stimulation, and promoting behavioral competence. We discuss our findings in relation to other insectivorous primates.

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Behavioral changes in pottos (Perodicticus potto): Effects of naturalizing an exhibit

Cited by 51 publications

References 8 publications

Hand‐rearing a Potto Perodicticus potto at Franklin Park Zoo, Boston

Hand‐rearing a Potto Perodicticus potto at Franklin Park Zoo, Boston

A Survey of Husbandry Practices for Lorisid Primates in North American Zoos and Related Facilities

Improving diet and activity of insectivorous primates in captivity: Naturalizing the diet of Northern Ceylon gray slender loris, Loris lydekkerianus nordicus

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