The effect of α-Casozepin on zoo animals with differently motivated stereotypies.
Master Thesis
79 Seiten
Zoologisches Institut Universität Köln
Betreuung: T. Ziegler, L. Kolter
Kölner Zoo
Abstract:
During this study, the effect of Zylkène® was investigated on different animals in the Cologne Zoo. Zylkène® is a feed adaptive with a relaxing and calming effect on anxiety. Another investigation of the study was to move two of three Malayan sun bears to different enclosures, which resulted in co-housing of two young females.
During several months three Malayan sun bears and two South African cheetahs with different motivated stereotypies were observed without and with application of Zylkène® and the behaviours were analysed. Stereotypies are classified as abnormal behaviours, in this case stereotypic pacing, which are initiated by different motivations. The effect of Zylkène® was tested on stereotypies with following assumed motivations: anxiety-induced, feeding-motivated and unknown motivations for the stereotypies.
The anxiety-induced stereotypy of the sun bear was indeed reduced with Zylkène®. However the sun bear increased pacing again after eight months. After changing the enclosure the sun bear ceased stereotypic behaviour. Neither co-housing with the conspecific (a potential aversive stimulus), nor discontinuation of Zylkène® initiated the stereotypic behaviour again.
The non-anxiety-induced stereotypies of the other two Malayan sun bears displayed no modifications with application of Zylkène®. But the assumed basic motivation of the stereotypy of one sun bear could be confirmed. The pacing is induced by routine feeding schedule, which results in a feeding anticipation and therefore stereotypic behaviour. The underlying motivation of the stereotypy of the third sun bear could not be determined.
Zylkène® had no effect on the stereotypy as well as on the remaining behaviour patterns of the South African cheetahs. During the observation a correlation of the stereotypy and the appearance of the keepers was detected. Therefore the underlying motivation is probably caused by feeding anticipation.
Consequently Zylkène® has only an effect on anxiety-induced stereotypies. Therefore it should only be applied on animals with acute stress-symptoms for calming. Additionally the aversive conditions that cause anxiety have to be determined and eliminated in order to treat successfully the anxiety-induced stereotypy and insure the welfare of the animal.
The number of animals available for investigation was small; therefore further studies should be made in order to verify these conclusions.
schlotz-biblio
6947