EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT ON BEHAVIOURAL WELFARE AND FAECAL CORTISOL METABOLITE LEVELS IN CAPTIVE LION-TAILED MACAQUES (Macaca silenus)
Loading...
Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This study was carried out at Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu with the main objective to study the effect of environmental enrichment on behavioural pattern of captive lion-tailed macaques (LTMs) based on ethogram and faecal cortisol metabolite levels.
A systematic ethogram was designed and general behaviour of the LTMs (total=18) from three different enclosures (six LTMs per enclosure) were assessed. The general behaviours were grouped into behavioural states and behavioural events. The behavioural states and events were categorized into normal self-directed, normal social interaction, abnormal self-directed and abnormal social-
interaction. Based on the activity pattern of the LTMs, the behavioural states were further categorized into self-directed active, self-directed resting, social, abnormal behaviour and out of sight. In the normal self-directed state, the LTMs spent maximum time sitting and minimum time lying down. Similarly, in the normal social interaction state, the LTMs spent maximum time in allogroom and minimum time wrestling. Self-oral was the only abnormal behavioural state observed. Based on the activity pattern of the behavioural states recorded, it was found that the LTMs spent maximum time in self-directed active state and minimum time in abnormal behavioural state. The behavioural event with high frequency recorded was scan, whereas less frequency were recorded in hide and peek, scream, threat leap and regurgitate and reingest.