SENSORIAL ENRICHMENT IN BIG FELINES IN TERRA NATURA MURCIA ZOO
Abstract
Conditions for wild animals in captivity in zoological parks have been in constant change throughout the years, to improve animal welfare. One of the proposed methods was the introduction of sensorial enrichment in these centres trying to make them resemble as much as possible the animals’ lifestyle in their natural habitat.
In this study, a sensorial enrichment has been tested in big felines from the zoological centre Terra Natura Murcia (6 lions, 2 leopards and 2 lynx) using scents. For this purpose, two products were tested, being one a synthetic product commercialised as Feliway® (synthetic analogue of the feline pheromone F3) and the other a natural concentrated lavender essence with the intention of surveying their effects on the animals’ behaviour and their possible stress levels measuring faecal cortisol levels.
Both the ethograms and the faecal sample collection took place before and after the introduction of the tested scents. The ethogram’s results indicated an increase in the behaviours such as smelling and rubbing against each other as well as the appearance of new behaviours such as attacking/playing or jumping/climbing up. The results of the measurements of faecal cortisol could not prove a decrease in stress levels due to lack of sample individualisation and limited number of samples. Despite the need of further studies, this study shows that the use of the tested products could improve animal welfare in Terra Natura Murcia.
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