Journal of Siberian Federal University. Biology / Analysis of the Visitor Effect on the Behavior of the Eurasian Lynx Lynx lynx (Carnivora: Felidae) in the Zoo

Full text (.pdf)
Issue
Journal of Siberian Federal University. Biology. 2023 16 (3)
Authors
Veselova, Natalya A.; Palkina, Polina O.
Contact information
Veselova, Natalya A.: K.A. Timiryazev State Biology Museum Moscow, Russian Federation; ; ORCID: 0000-0001-9679-2329; Palkina, Polina O.: Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy Moscow, Russian Federation
Keywords
visitor effect; behavior; animal welfare; Eurasian lynx; zoo
Abstract

Modern approaches to keeping animals in captivity are based on the principles of maintaining their welfare, the level of which depends on a number of external factors, the most important of them being the visitor effect. Based on this, the purpose of our study was to analyze the influence of visitors on the behavior of Eurasian lynxes Lynx lynx in three Russian zoos. Observations were carried out on 7 adult Eurasian lynxes (2 ♂ and 5 ♀). The dynamics of the activity of animals and the use of the shelters were assessed as dependent on the captivity conditions in different zoos and the number of visitors. Observations showed that in the time budget of animals, inactive forms of behavior prevailed (62.0 % on average). The locomotor activity of lynxes increased with an increase in the number of visitors. Only in the Sochi Zoo, the animals demonstrated stereotypic behavior (40.0 % on average). The increase in the number of visitors could presumably have provoked an increase in the level of pathological activity of animals. In addition, in the presence of large numbers of people, lynxes more often visited the shelter. The present study demonstrates that captivity conditions, the size of the enclosure, and the availability of shelters are the key factors influencing the behavior of animals in the presence of zoo visitors

Pages
301–311
EDN
YFWGEE
Paper at repository of SibFU
https://elib.sfu-kras.ru/handle/2311/151777

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