环境富集(EE)的实施可以通过增强自然或物种典型行为的表现来有效促进动物园动物福利。对EE影响的研究偏向于较大的哺乳动物物种,不那么有魅力的物种被忽视了。Armadillos就是这样一个被忽视的例子。导致不活动的圈养环境,肥胖,和相关的健康状况不佳会对Armadillo的健康产生负面影响。这项研究的目的是评估四个基于物理对象的EEs的实施如何积极影响三个Armadillo物种的行为,存放在四个类似的展品中。行为数据收集之前(基线)和期间(治疗)EE期,除了游客数量和环境温度。EE由塑料球或纸板管或纸板箱组成,或者分散馈送,这些在研究的每个星期都会轮换,直到每个展览都依次收到它们。尽管存在不同的EE类型,在整个研究中,活性仍然很低。然而,结果表明,塑料球和纸板箱增加了Armadillos的探索行为,但在分散饲料期间没有注意到活性的总体增加。访客的存在对Armadillo活动没有影响,随着环境温度的升高,Armadillos的活性降低。总的来说,基于物理对象的EE的使用促进了动物园饲养的Armadillos中有益的自然行为,但环境条件(即,温度)也影响了Armadillo的活动,表明围栏的环境变量与任何行为饲养措施之间存在复杂的关系。
The implementation of environmental enrichment (EE) can be effective in promoting zoo animal welfare by enhancing the performance of natural or species-typical behaviors. Research on the effects of EE is biased towards larger mammalian species, with less charismatic species being overlooked.
Armadillos are one such overlooked example. A captive environment that results in inactivity, obesity, and associated poor health can negatively affect armadillo well-being. The aim of this
study was to evaluate how the implementation of four physical object-based EEs could positively affect the behaviors of three armadillo species, housed in four similar exhibits. Behavioral data were collected both before (baseline) and during (treatment) EE periods, alongside of visitor number and environmental temperatures. The EE comprised of a plastic ball or a cardboard tube or a cardboard box, or a scatter-feed, and these were rotated each week of
study until each exhibit had received them in turn. Despite the presence of different EE types, activity remained low throughout the
study. However, results suggest that the plastic ball and cardboard box increased exploratory behaviors in the armadillos, but no overall increase in activity was noted during the scatter feed. Visitor presence had no effect on armadillo activity, and armadillos showed reduced activity with increasing environmental temperature. Overall, the use of physical object-based EE promoted beneficial natural behaviors in zoo-housed
armadillos, but environmental conditions (i.e., temperature) also impacted armadillo activity, suggesting a complicated relationship between an enclosure\'s environmental variable and any behavioral husbandry measures.