Different enriched environments for Eurasian lynx in the Barnaul Zoo

Abstract

Our primary interest is in welfare of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in the Barnaul Zoo. As discussed below, behavioural researches can reveal much about the welfare of captive wild animals. Eurasian lynx behaviour is studied and time budget is calculated for male and female. The Schorygin’ similarity coefficient of behaviour is determined (87.2%). The male lynx demonstrated low degree of stereotypic behaviour–5.9%, the female lynx–3.8%. We analyzed the differences in their behaviour before and after environmental enrichment. Olfactory environmental enrichment exhibits a decrease of male stereotypic behaviour on 24.3% and of female on 18.8%. Feeding environmental enrichment reduces male stereotypic behaviour on 15.9%, female on 20.3% (with a rat trunk); the male lynx pacing is diminished on 0.9% and female stereotypic behaviour on 1.4% in experiments with meat under fresh-cut grass. Based on our findings, we recommend that lynxes should be housed by mating pair (male with female), with appropriate hiding locations and with the varied feeding, change decorations for captive lynx, carry out tests by olfactory environmental enrichment (with pony droppings and with valerian) and feeding environmental enrichment. It could be concluded that animal welfare depends on keepers’ goodwill relation with captive lynx.

Group Reunion in Zoo European Wildcats Using Cat Appeasing Pheromone (CAP) and Gradual Release of the Animals in the Exhibit—A Case Study

“…At the moment, the low number of published papers dealing with (re)unions is unlikely to represent a high percentage of the actual cases of (re)unions taking place in zoological institutions worldwide. Moreover, published papers tend to deal mainly with highly charismatic social species (such as social primates, wild dogs and elephants [3,[12][13][14][15]), although solitary species can also be kept in groups or pairs in zoos, and such an approach has been found to be beneficial for at least some of them [8,[16][17][18][19]. For example, a quick search on Scopus (https://www.scopus.com/; accessed on 16 November 2021) with the introduction AND zoo AND cat AND social AND group as keywords rendered only one result: a paper on enrichment in tigers, including a general section on social housing [20], although two cases of a semiochemical being used during the introduction of tigers have been published elsewhere [2,21].…”

Breeding behavioral activities of captive red pandas in Nepal

“…This might be because the animals were in favorable conditions with an airconditioned structure that afforded security from disturbances, a large outdoor enclosure, and readily available food. Captive animals display less stereotypic behavior when housed in sufficient spaces with proper nutrition and enrichment (Molla et al 2011;Antonenko et al 2019). Further, housing solitary animals in pairs has benefitted other carnivore species and reduced atypical behaviors (Duncan 1998;Swaisgood and Shepherdson 2005;Spiezio et al 2022).…”

Experience of using clove oil for olfactory enrichment in Russian Zoos

“…There are many different ways to improve welfare of captive animals. Success has been found in olfactory stimulation via the introduction of novel scents (Resende et al, 2011;Vidal et al, 2016;Antonenko, Ulitina, Pysarev, 2018). Single novel odorants recognition and noradrenergic mechanisms are crucial in mediating neural plasticity induced by olfactory enrichment (Veyrac et al, 2009).…”