An evaluation of environmental enrichment for two highly social and endangered canid species, the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus and Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi).

摘要

Historically, zoos and other captive facilities gave little regard to the well-being of captive or display animals. Today's modern zoo attempts to make an environmental connection between captive animals and the community through educational programs and conservation research. Many captive animals are now considered conservation ambassadors and their exhibits often highlight the need for habitat preservation and research in their native environments. As conservation ambassadors, it is important that captive animals be both visually and behaviorally similar to their wild counterparts. To accomplish this goal, many zoos have been employing environmental enrichment, a technique that seeks to enhance the quality of captive animal care by providing stimuli necessary for optimal psychological and physiological well-being. The number and types of enrichment strategies that exist are vast and diverse: toys, animal rotation, naturalistic enclosures, varying the placement of food, carcasses, hunting simulation, foraging devices, puzzle feeders, scents, music, sounds, lighting, and greater choices in where one spends its time. This dissertation examined the behavioral responses of captive African wild dogs and Mexican wolves when offered novel enrichment items. When presented with novel olfactory enrichment, Mexican wolves varied in their behavioral response and interest toward scents. African wild dogs displayed a greater amount of interest in novel urine samples of competitor species than prey species as a form of olfactory enrichment. When an African wild dog sibling pack was provided durable toys that varied in sensory characteristics (control, sound, food, scent), the pack directed greater attention to toys with food or a sound component placed inside.