Welfare Wednesday - July 31st 2024

Hi All!

Here is another edition of Welfare Wednesday, which features one animal welfare article that you may find interesting and one enrichment idea for you to try!

Welfare Article Summary?

Fugl, A., Sissel, L., Severin, Z., Barbara, M., Pertoldi, C., Perea García, J., . . . Kristian, A. (2024).?The behavioral response of a captive female Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) to mixed-species exhibition with two Asian small-clawed otters (Aonyx cinereus).?Genetics & Biodiversity Journal,?8(1), 1-21.

Introduction

• Bornean orangutans in captivity face chronic stress and behavioral changes due to differences from their complex natural environment, leading to issues like inactivity and obesity.
• Enrichment methods, such as toys, digital stimulation, and mixed-species housing, can improve their well-being by providing mental and physical stimulation, though potential risks must be managed.
• Introducing species like Asian small-clawed otters to orangutan enclosures can enhance activity levels and behavioral complexity, benefiting the orangutans' health and personality.

Methods

• The study examined a 9-year-old captive female Bornean orangutan at Aalborg Zoo, observed for 21 days in two periods: baseline (BL) before the introduction of otters and treatment (TM) after.
• Two Asian small-clawed otters were introduced to the orangutan’s enclosure on August 24th and 30th, while a male orangutan, introduced on June 23rd, was not included in the study.
• The orangutans' enclosures allowed visual interaction with each other, zookeepers, and visitors, and included indoor and outdoor sections; the outdoor section became available to the female orangutan on July 8th.
• The zoo's enrichment efforts included placing food in various spots, providing plant material, water access, and objects like ropes, tree trunks, swings, wood, wool, and blankets for stimulation and activity.

Results/ Discussion?

• The study found an increase in activity of a captive female orangutan after the introduction of two otters, indicating that mixed-species enrichment can improve the welfare of captive orangutans.
• The orangutan's behavior changed significantly post-otter introduction, with increased locomotion and decreased inactivity, aligning with previous studies showing similar benefits from mixed-species environments.
• The orangutan's activity patterns became more similar to those of wild orangutans after the otters' introduction, suggesting that mixed-species enrichment can create a more naturalistic environment.
• The study observed correlations between increased interaction with enrichment and foraging/feeding, as well as some self-directed behaviors, highlighting the complex effects of environmental changes on orangutan behavior.

Enrichment for you to try

• https://www.instagram.com/p/C9AnkKhivG6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

You may have missed

• Ep. 54- Creating Effective Welfare Assessments and Demystifying Statistics with Dr. Kylen Gartland
• In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Kylen Gartland who is the Manager of Applied Animal Welfare Science at the Centre for Zoo and Aquarium Animal Welfare and Ethics located at the Detroit Zoological Society. In this wide-ranging conversation, we touched on creating effective systems to assess animal welfare, demystifying statistics and much more!

As always, thank you so much for reading!?

Have a great week,

Kyle?