INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT IN CAPTIVE CHIMPANZEES (Pan troglodytes spp.) AND GORILLAS (Gorilla gorilla gorilla): BEHAVIOR AND FAECAL CORTISOL LEVELS
Year: 2011
Type: article
Abstract: It is considered of significant importance to provide wild animals\nin captivity with environmental enrichment elements to\nimprove their psychological and physiological well being,\nstimulating a higher activity and behavioral variety. This study\nevaluated the effect of different enrichment elements (explorative/\nmanipulative, physical and feeding enrichment devices) on\nthe behavior and physiology of two groups of great apes, gorillas\n(Gorilla gorilla) and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) at the\nZoo-Aquarium of Madrid. The proposed prediction was that\nthere would be a reduction of inactivity, anomalous and nondesired\nbehavior, also on cortisol levels, as a result of the\nstimular improvements. The behaviors and cortisol faecal levels\nwere compared between two different conditions: 1. previous\nphase without enrichment, 2. enrichment phase. The data\nanalysis allowed measuring the efficiency of the enrichment,\nrevealing that the frequency of inactivity and anomalous behaviors\nwas significantly reduced in the enrichment phase. On\nthe other hand, the frequency of exploratory-manipulative behavior\nincreased in both species, whereas locomotors and\nfeeding behaviors were reduced in gorillas but increased in\nchimpanzees. Also, the preferences of chimpanzees and gorillas\nfor the diverse enrichments elements were different. In relation\nto the levels of cortisol, the results do not support the proposal\nfor the initial hypothesis, both in the case of chimpanzees\nas in the case of gorillas, it had increased to such levels\nin the enrichment phase, the increase being significant just in\nthe gorillas. The results on the behavioral parameters are consistent\nwith the hypothesis because there is improvement induced\nby environmental enrichment.
Authors: Félix Zaragoza, Miguel Ibáñez, Blanca Más, Santiago Laiglesia, Bernadette Anzola
Language: Spanish
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W1838657861