The causes of the low breeding success of european mink (Mustela lutreola) in captivity

Abstract

High among-individual variation in mating success often causes problems in conservation breeding programs. This is also the case for critically endangered European mink and may jeopardize the long-term maintenance of the species' genetic diversity under the European mink EEP Program. In this study, breeding success of wild and captive born European minks at Tallinn Zoological Garden are compared, and the mating behavior of the males is analyzed. Results show that wild born males successfully mate significantly more often than captive born males (89% and 35%, respectively). On the basis of an extensive record of mating attempts, both male aggressiveness and passivity are identified as primary causes of the observed mating failures. All other potential determinants have only a minor role. Mating success as well as a male's aggressiveness and passivity are shown to depend more strongly on the male than the female partner. We did not find any evidence that the behavior of an individual is dependent on the identity of its partner. We suggest that aggressiveness and passivity are two expressions of abnormal behavior brought about by growing up in captivity: the same individuals are likely to display both aggressive and passive behavior. The results point to the need to study and modify maintenance conditions and management procedures of mink to reduce the negative impact of the captive environment on the long-term goals of the program.

Benefits of a Ball and Chain: Simple Environmental Enrichments Improve Welfare and Reproductive Success in Farmed American Mink (Neovison vison)

“…black footed ferrets and European mink) that are too rare and housed in too small numbers to be suitable experimental subjects themselves. Furthermore, some of these endangered wild mustelids in breeding centres are kept in quite small, non-enriched cages comparable to those on farms [37]–[39], and commonly have reproductive problems (e.g. reviewed by [24]).…”

Environmentally Enriched Male Mink Gain More Copulations than Stereotypic, Barren-Reared Competitors

“…To illustrate, in zoos and captive breeding centres many captive male European mink ( Mustela lutreola : [1]), black-footed ferrets ( Mustela nigripes : [2]), giant pandas ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca : [3], [4]) and some felids [5], [6] fail to sire offspring; captive females may be acyclic (e.g. black-footed cat Felis nigripes and sand cat Felis margarita , [7]); and infant mortality can also be excessive (e.g.…”

Social behaviour of endangered European mink ( Mustela lutreola ) litters in captivity

“…Even if such a definitive conclusion cannot be made without the possibility to compare the captive behaviour with the natural one, the present study nevertheless provides no indication of abnormal juvenile behaviour in captive European mink litters. The causes of the frequently observed abnormal behaviour during breeding season (Kiik et al, 2013) are therefore most likely to be found elsewhere.…”

“…However, there are problems with some of the males which behave aggressively or are passive during the breeding attempts and therefore fail to sire any young. On ongoing conservation actions and unsolved issues with the captive population, see Kiik et al (2013) and Maran et al (2009) on survival of captive-born animals in restoration programmes.…”

“…After mating (see Kiik et al, 2013; for a detailed description of a mating trial) females remain in their individual enclosures. Three weeks after the expected parturition date (gestation length ∼42 days (Youngman, 1990)) all the successfully mated females are checked for having delivered a litter.…”