Volume 5, Issue 3, p. 38-41, December 2022
Doi: https://doi.org/10.32435/envsmoke.20225338-41
Environmental Smoke, e-ISSN:
2595-5527
“5 years spreading quality
science to all who seek a source of interdisciplinary knowledge”
Short
Communication:
IMPORTANCE OF ETHOLOGY
APPLIED BY VETERINARIANS FOR ADAPTATION SYNDROME IN ZOO ANIMALS
Gil Dutra Furtado1,2* (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5611-4814); Soraya
Abrantes Pinto de Brito2 (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1929-8551); Grazielly
Diniz Duarte2 (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2690-2590); Felipe
Eduardo da Silva Sobral2 (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1329-0057); Martin
Lindsey Christoffersen3 (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8108-1938)
1COOPAGRO – Cooperative of Technical Services of Agribusiness [Cooperativa de Serviços
Técnicos do Agronegócio],
Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
2UNINASSAU/PB – Maurício de Nassau
University Center, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
3UFPB –
Federal University of Paraíba, CCEN – Center of Exact and Nature Sciences, DSE
– Department of Systematics and Ecology, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
*Corresponding author: gdfurtado@hotmail.com
Submitted
on: 17 Oct. 2022
Accepted
on: 28 Nov. 2022
Published
on: 31 Dec. 2022
License:
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Animal rearing regimes in zoos can be
strongly altered according to the adaptation of animals to the captive
environment. These changes can modulate animal well-being. In this review, we
approach studies of ethological action and its impacts on the adaptation
syndrome of captive animals. Zoos offer multiple ways of making adaptations of
animals more difficult. strongly favoring the appearance of this syndrome.
Animal organisms have their own characteristics, which allow us to identify
their state of adaptation to the environment. This fact facilitates significant
progress in our general understanding of the genotype-phenotype relationships
of animals. The action of the veterinarian in zoos is thus favored. Knowledge
of the basic characteristics of animals provides basic behavioral insights and
enhances our understanding of the ways in which adaptation can modulate the
lives of animals in suitable environments. There are also several and important
applications, such as increasing well-being, preventing pathologies
and promoting the advancement of scientific knowledge.
Keywords:
Behavior. Zoos. Ethological studies.
1 Introduction
Behavioral
observations (ethology) are an important tool that is widely used in scientific
research, such is the case when the aim is to detect behavioral changes in a
systematic way and to understand their origin.
For veterinarians working in zoos, behavioral monitoring is essential
for understanding behavior and for evaluating the health and well-being of
animals in the zoo.
Veterinarians may use
behavioral observation in order to increase the
well-being of animals (KLEIMAN, 1992). Behavioral research has been used to
evaluate the efficiency of applied techniques. Results are promising,
contributions to increase knowledge on animal behavior, of their health, and of
their welfare (MAPLE, 1986; STOINSKI et al., 1998).
Monitoring animals
under the care of veterinarians permits the recording of their normal behavior,
considering the reality of each individual. This
generates results that go beyond mere conjectures. It becomes possible to
record the individual and group behavior for the entire community living in a
zoo. Such recording makes it possible to detect problems and to anticipate
actions directed to the management of each species.
2 Methodology
An
extensive literature review was made on factors involved in the adaptation
syndrome encountered in animals under captivity. We included the
interpretations furnished by professional biologists and veterinarians on this
theme. This activity was made by students in class P8 at the University
UNINASSAU, João Pessoa, Paraíba.
This
article represents a study based on the review of the specific literature that
deals with ethology, animal psychiatry and behaviorism. It synthesizes
information available in electronic databases such as GOOGLE and GOOGLE
SCHOLAR, using keywords such as Behavior. Zoos. Ethological studies, veterinary
medicine. The relevant literature was critically read to extract the most
important issues (BARDIN, 1977; DIAS et al., 2011; GIL, 2011).
3 Results and Discussion
Behavioral
monitoring has a significant role in animal well-being. It reveals if animals
are housed in an appropriate social environment, if their health is adequate,
if feeding is appropriate, and provides important information on reproductive
conditions, indicating hormone problems (CROCKETT, 1996).
Because
physical, psychological and social problems are
frequently associated with changes in behavior, a behavioral inspection aims to
transmit much information relating to each animal (CROCKETT, 1996).
According
to a paper produced at PRODEMA – UFPB, the behavior of felines is much affected
by the presence of visitors, leading to a certain amount of discomfort and,
consequently, to stress of these animals (COSTA et al., 2017). The authors
indicate the necessity of larger premises for the observed animals, which
included a jaguar, a lion, and a cougar (COSTA et al., 2017). These authors
also note that the large number of visitors (school groups, local
residents, researchers, among others) alter their behaviors (COSTA et
al., 2017).
Another
paper by students at PRODEMA – UFPB, now focused on the anteater, confirms the
importance of observing animal behavior. It indicates the stress of animals
with visitors, and serves to monitor the well-being of
these animals within their enclosures (BATISTA et al., 2018).
Ethological
activities and behavioral observations by trained professionals prove
fundamental for the monitoring of animal trajectories in their living
enclosures. The obtained information contributes to the maintenance and
improvement of animal health and well-being (FURTADO et al., 2018a; FURTADO et
al., 2018b; ENEDINO et al., 1018).
The
adaptation syndrome of animals in captivity, as presented by animals living in
zoos, usually affects those individuals captured more recently. They may be
allocated to environments with inadequate temperature and inadequate diet.
Maladaptive animals may become overweight and subject to stress (KREBS e
DAVIES, 1996).
Clinical
symptoms present in such animals may be observed and identified as: anorexia,
rostral erosion, lesions caused by their enclosures (CAMPOS & CAMPOS, 2009;
CASTAÑO, 2001).
For
treatment, the animal environment may be improved, with as little manipulation
of individuals as possible, Carnivorous animals should receive living food.
Lesions are treated with fluid antiseptics and with the administration of
antimicrobial drugs in the case of infections (CASTAÑO, 2001).
One study
reports the occurrence of adaptation syndrome in a captive Caiman latirostris (Daudin, 1801).
Symptoms included exaggerated thermic oscillations and inadequate covering
(MENEZES et al., 2017). The unfolding of the syndrome resulted in the
exhaustion of the individual, leading to loss of weight, development of rostral
ulcerated lesions, necrotic dermatitis, apathy, anorexia, dehydration,
conductive to possible death (MENEZES et al., 2017).
Prognosis
was reserved and the treatment of anorexia was difficult,
because these animals had problems in eating by themselves. A case in
March 2017, involving a female C. latirostris,
measuring 45 cm in total length, aimed to promote behaviors typical of the
species. Clinical evaluations and complementary exams, such as xrays and endoscopies were made, in order
to evaluate the animal as a whole. The specimen was isolated for two
weeks, placed in an enriched container, subject to minimal restraints, and
observed by a professional. As a result of these actions, weight was gained,
activity was increased, and the animal began to feed in captivity on its own
(MENEZES et al., 2017).
The
enclosure in a zoo, as a rule, is a highly limiting factor for the animal. Some
species are unable to adapt to live in captivity, developing the adaptive
syndrome. According to several research, an excess of sounds in zoos (for
example) influences the reproduction of some animals negatively. This is the
case for the giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca (David, 1869). The use
of behavioral studies of giant pandas elevated the reproductive rates three
times in seven years. Such results were possible evaluating behavioral traits,
enriching the environment, familiarizing animal couples with estrus signals,
and stimulating them by visual and olfactory signs to choose the best time for
reproduction. Ethological actions in
zoos with captive pandas are effective means of promoting the well-being of
these animals, to amplify their reproductive rates, and to minimize stress in
their captive enclosures in zoos (HARRIS e EDWARDS, 2004).
It has
also been observed that felines are affected by situations such as transport
among enclosures in zoos, that promote stress in captive tigers – Panthera tigris (Linnaeus, 1758). In captive elephants, stress
leads to repetitive behaviors such as rocking the head constantly, as may be
commonly seen in circuses. It is also reported that primates present
stereotyped behaviors and automutilation in less
attractive environments (HARRIS e EDWARDS, 2004 & MOTA-ROJAS, 2022).
In
free-living animals, social hierarchy and dominance may lead to constant
sources of stress. In wolves (Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758), high levels
of cortisol were associated with dominant animals; the cost of maintaining
dominance was high, due to chronic stress.
4 Conclusions
The adaptive syndrome of animals under
captivity is a reality affecting many zoos. The veterinarian must be prepared
to prevent, detect, and provide the best method for rehabilitating such animals
that have spent most of their lives enclosed as captives in zoos.
CREDIT AUTHORSHIP
CONTRIBUTION STATEMENT
GDF: Conceptualization, Practice, and Writing
of the article. SAPB, GDD: Participated in the Methodology and Writing. FESS: Writing
review and Supervision. MLC: Translation and Proofreading.
DECLARATION OF INTEREST
The
authors declare no conflict of interest with the participants or collaborators
of this article, either directly or indirectly.
FUNDING SOURCE
The author declares that no funding is
applicable for this research.
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