I came across a video of jaguar pacing at the Woodland Park Zoo, which is sort of surprising considering how ultra-natural the exhibit is. It wasn't a real fast incessant pacing, but it was still surprising. Does anyone have any opinions on animals, especially big cats showing stereotypical behaviors in naturalistic exhibits, or any info on it?
Pacing animals in naturalistic exhibits
- Thread starter BlackRhino
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mjmorg89
Well-Known Member
Animals can begin stereotypical behaviour in a previous zoo which may have had a bad enclosure and the behaviour can be retained in the new zoo, sometimes for the animals entire life. However animals like big cats do pace their territory to either scent mark or just survey and check no new animals have entered it
Firstly someone is far more likely to take a video of a jaguar walking about because that is far more interesting than seeing one sleeping behind a log.
How natural the exhibit looks can really have little to do with stereotypical behaviour. A captive bred Jaguar wouldnt know it was in an ultra-natural exhibit.
Many things my prompt pacing I started to list them but got bored. Usually its pre-feeding anticipation, but so many other factors that have little to do with how natural the enclosure is: enclosure or nearby alterations, sex, animal history, logical route and so on
Good point, seems fitting as it was more like strolling instead of face pacing.
When given this reason for pacing, I generally disagree for two reasons:
1) When an animal is marking its territory, it does not simply walk around the perimeter but marks throughout (it is also worth noting that pacing animals do not tend to urinate frequently so could not be marking their territory).
2) Walking up and down a particular stretch is not pacing a territory as that would involve walking across quite long distances so that more gets covered.
It is one of my pet hates to hear keepers at feeding demonstrations use this as an excuse.
A couple of other reasons for pacing that have not been mentioned:
- It knows that it is going to get food and is impatient.
- Although an exhibit is naturalistic, that does not make it good.
A naturalistic exhibit may not make a good one, but the one in Seattle is extremely well suited for jaguars. The exhibit really is a jaguar paradise and has anything a jaguar could want.
Also I have seen the snow leopard at Cleveland Zoo marks its exhibit with urine sprays while pacing. I think I tend to agree with mjmorg89 on this subject matter.
Also I have seen the snow leopard at Cleveland Zoo marks its exhibit with urine sprays while pacing. I think I tend to agree with mjmorg89 on this subject matter.
Buckeye092
Well-Known Member
Pacing sounds really negative, but in most situations I've seen the pacing isn't an animal in distress, it's just a behavior. For example, most of you have seen the tiger exhibit at the Columbus Zoo. No doubt it is one of the best in the US, and our tigers pace. Why? Because they are excerising, stalking a visitor, or something else. I'm sure the jaguar pacing was just it's little stroll around the block. I wouldn't jump the gun when you see an animal pacing and say the care of the animal or the exhibit quality is bad. There are plenty of positive reasons for pacing. Heck, the only person that knows why an animal is pacing is the animal itself.
I like the point "A captive bred Jaguar wouldnt know it was in an ultra-natural exhibit".
ultra-natural exhibit are something the public demands now. Its unfourtunate that zoos never bothered to properley educate the public.
Its just that Western Lowlang Gorillas, come from the impenatrable forest. Visability 1-2 foot most of the time. Also all that glass viewing on indoor enclosures. Removing all chance of privacy.
My point being, a natural exhibit is no reason to necesarily expect an animal not to show stero-type behaviour. As you point out a captive bread animal has no idea. It does however have millions of years of evoloution and instinctive behaviour needs that zoos have a responsability to meet.
Animals pace for different reasons, eg. excitement before feeding. Naturalness, in a sense that animal has eg. natural cave instead of unnatural box, has little to do with it. It is more to educate visitors.
I saw big cats pacing in very big and natural exhibits. Actually, when you thik that wild cats live in many habitats, they should not care about naturalness.
I also met different opinions about pacing. One zoo specialist advised against building cat exhibit where cat can see everything from one point. He reasoned that animal which checks different parts of exhibit (that is, paces) will be more fit and healthy.
I saw big cats pacing in very big and natural exhibits. Actually, when you thik that wild cats live in many habitats, they should not care about naturalness.
I also met different opinions about pacing. One zoo specialist advised against building cat exhibit where cat can see everything from one point. He reasoned that animal which checks different parts of exhibit (that is, paces) will be more fit and healthy.
Panthera Puss
Well-Known Member
Pacing with a purpose (eg checking territory) would not be a problem I guess, but the purposeless pacing up & down of a few metres is more symptomatic of problems, although as has been mentioned cats will pace with excitement in anticipation of feed or play time. Some cats pace in front of visitors because they like the attention & company. I reckon any cat in any enclosure in the world will do some pacing at some point; as always I suppose the key is enrichment, in terms of enclosure design and specific activities to allow the animals to express & enjoy natural behaviour by using their natural senses & attributes. Another factor is that individual cats don't always behave in the way they're supposed to in the textbooks - not all Jaguars are keen on water, for example!
CindelP
Well-Known Member
Plus, it's important to realize that being naturalist doenst make them good enough!
Yes, being naturalist is a good start but it's not enough. At the same degree of importance is the stimulation of the animal ...
A jaguar (or any other) if left in a super hiper naturalistic after some years (or month) will start pacing or even streessing (depending of the animal) ...
So, not suprising to me IF the keeper doesnt provide correct husbandry to the animals.
Yes, being naturalist is a good start but it's not enough. At the same degree of importance is the stimulation of the animal ...
A jaguar (or any other) if left in a super hiper naturalistic after some years (or month) will start pacing or even streessing (depending of the animal) ...
So, not suprising to me IF the keeper doesnt provide correct husbandry to the animals.