Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Conservation work is an important part in preserving biodiversity. Ex situ conservation at zoos is today an essential part to preserve healthy population sizes and to gain interest in the subject from the public. For wild animals, captivity can be a stressful environment that induces stereotypic behaviours such as pacing. At Borås Zoo, two Carpathian lynxes (Lynx lynx carpathicus) are housed where the female has developed pacing as part of her behavioural repertoire. To improve welfare and reduce stereotypic behaviour an evaluation if activity in proximity to the enclosure induces pacing, and if different foraging enrichments reduce the stereotypic behaviour, was performed. The study included a control period with regular routines and three treatments where feed was provided based on natural foraging behaviour of wild lynx. Treatment 1 had a winch which was lowered at specific times and provided feed. Treatment 2 included full-carcass feeding of a roe deer carcass. Treatment 3 included the winch with a setting that lowered and raised the feed multiple times. The analysis of activity in proximity showed a correlation between keepers’ activity, cars, tractors and the prevalence of pacing. The feeding enrichments had an impact on the occurrence of pacing, reducing both frequency and duration of the behaviour in all treatments. The results indicate that well adapted enrichment for Carpathian Lynxes in captivity can help improve welfare by reducing stress from the environment.