I did see one of the elephant cows doing that at Port Lymnpe at half-term. They were confined to quite a small yard, didn't understand and why they couldn't access a paddock.
Which animals pace at your zoo?
- Thread starter Jurek7
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I did see one of the elephant cows doing that at Port Lymnpe at half-term. They were confined to quite a small yard, didn't understand and why they couldn't access a paddock.
Animals I hace seen pacing
- fossas at newquay zoo
- tigers at both west midlands safari park and at chester zoo (though it was near feeding at chester)
- leopards at west midlands safari park in their terrible glass box they just pace back and forth all day against the glass
- Lynx in their temporary enclosure at the birmingham nature centre
Overall zoos have done a great job in eliminating this behaviour and I am now glad to say this is an ever decreasing rarity
- fossas at newquay zoo
- tigers at both west midlands safari park and at chester zoo (though it was near feeding at chester)
- leopards at west midlands safari park in their terrible glass box they just pace back and forth all day against the glass
- Lynx in their temporary enclosure at the birmingham nature centre
Overall zoos have done a great job in eliminating this behaviour and I am now glad to say this is an ever decreasing rarity
Since I read this thread the Chester Bengal tigers were the first ones which came to mind. It wasn't "incessant" pacing and seemed to be a more "methodical" pace. However, I do not recall seeing the Amur tigers pace and I have yet to see the Sumatrans pacing (although I haven't seen the new Sumatran pair that often).
Co-incidentally (depending on the time of your visits to both collections), you may have seen the same two individual tigers at both West Midlands at Chester
Pacing is not always easy to recognise. It can occur in arboreal species, but it needs careful observation to spot it if there is no alternative pathway round the enclosure.
On the other hand, I once spent half an hour trying to photograph 'Forselle', the old male fossa at Colchester Zoo (who has since died). He spent of that time circling his enclosure. I thought he was pacing, but it didn't take long to realise that this behaviour was not stereotyped, because each lap was different, he didn't travel at the same speed, he didn't take exactly the same route and he certainly didn't put his paws in exactly the same places each time.
Alan
On the other hand, I once spent half an hour trying to photograph 'Forselle', the old male fossa at Colchester Zoo (who has since died). He spent of that time circling his enclosure. I thought he was pacing, but it didn't take long to realise that this behaviour was not stereotyped, because each lap was different, he didn't travel at the same speed, he didn't take exactly the same route and he certainly didn't put his paws in exactly the same places each time.
Alan
In Prague. Tayra. Both of them. And polar bear male from Brno was pacing a lot when he was on loan last year. Bad habit from adolescent times in Alma-Ata. Well it was more swinging from side to side than pacing but it was by far the most stereotypical behaviour in the zoo.
At Beardsley:
Occasionally the wolves (Gray, Red, and Maned) will pace, but only when they know something is going on, like feeding or enrichment. Otherwise, no pacing from them.
When Joaquin the Andean Bear was at the zoo, he spent practically all day pacing. It was depressing. In fact, a few minutes after finishing up with some enrichment, he started pacing.
Sasquatch the male Canada Lynx always seems to be pacing. Selma, the female, seems to be somewhat more relaxed, but I might have seen her pace once.
The Amur Tigers pace, especially Viktor, the male. Naka seems to be more calm, though she paces sometimes; perhaps because she has spent more time at Beardsley, and possibly because Viktor seems to pace when he is separated from Naka?
Rizzo the North American River Otter sometimes just swims back and forth, probably because his mate died earlier, and he hates his new companion.
Occasionally the wolves (Gray, Red, and Maned) will pace, but only when they know something is going on, like feeding or enrichment. Otherwise, no pacing from them.
When Joaquin the Andean Bear was at the zoo, he spent practically all day pacing. It was depressing. In fact, a few minutes after finishing up with some enrichment, he started pacing.
Sasquatch the male Canada Lynx always seems to be pacing. Selma, the female, seems to be somewhat more relaxed, but I might have seen her pace once.
The Amur Tigers pace, especially Viktor, the male. Naka seems to be more calm, though she paces sometimes; perhaps because she has spent more time at Beardsley, and possibly because Viktor seems to pace when he is separated from Naka?
Rizzo the North American River Otter sometimes just swims back and forth, probably because his mate died earlier, and he hates his new companion.
At Toronto I saw a porcupine in the Americas house that was rapidly pacing (it probally was the fastest pacing i have seen).
At Brookfield Zoo the bears used to pace in their old grottoes but since the new exhibit has opened I have only seen pacing once by the old male polar bear Aussie (The first polar bear born in Australia). The otters pace alot including through the water. I cannot remember seeing any other animals pacing recently.
At Lincoln Park Zoo the polar bear paces in the water the same exact way for very long times (his paw hits the same exact spot every time). Someone on this website mentioned this about two years ago and he/she is still pacing.
At Brookfield Zoo the bears used to pace in their old grottoes but since the new exhibit has opened I have only seen pacing once by the old male polar bear Aussie (The first polar bear born in Australia). The otters pace alot including through the water. I cannot remember seeing any other animals pacing recently.
At Lincoln Park Zoo the polar bear paces in the water the same exact way for very long times (his paw hits the same exact spot every time). Someone on this website mentioned this about two years ago and he/she is still pacing.
normaeinstein
Active Member
At Melbourne Zoo (Aus) The tigers pace and the caracal paces all day. It's tough to watch.
At Taronga Zoo:
-Mr Hobbs the sun bear used to pace on a certain log in their former exhibit. This is probably due to most of his life spent in a small cage in the restaurant trade.
-Snow leopards, Sumatran tigers lions and fishing cat when it is almost feeding time.
-Sometimes the dhole, so it is not 'true' pacing in a sense that they choose when to do it. I would probably say that this is also due to feeding time being close.
-I have also seen echidnas 'pacing' but i'm not entirely sure if this could be counted.
-Mr Hobbs the sun bear used to pace on a certain log in their former exhibit. This is probably due to most of his life spent in a small cage in the restaurant trade.
-Snow leopards, Sumatran tigers lions and fishing cat when it is almost feeding time.
-Sometimes the dhole, so it is not 'true' pacing in a sense that they choose when to do it. I would probably say that this is also due to feeding time being close.
-I have also seen echidnas 'pacing' but i'm not entirely sure if this could be counted.
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
Interesting thread (which I never noticed before)
At the recently held AZA conference, animal behaviorist Dr. Temple Grandin stated (as many have in this thread) that often "pacing" behavior is in reality an animal patroling its territory (exactly what @EvilKitty wrote above). One zoo, at least, is exploring creating a tiger exhibit to take advantage of this patrolling behavior by building a series of runs that extend out through the landscape beyond the enclosure so the animals can go out and patrol their perimeter amidst the public
At the recently held AZA conference, animal behaviorist Dr. Temple Grandin stated (as many have in this thread) that often "pacing" behavior is in reality an animal patroling its territory (exactly what @EvilKitty wrote above). One zoo, at least, is exploring creating a tiger exhibit to take advantage of this patrolling behavior by building a series of runs that extend out through the landscape beyond the enclosure so the animals can go out and patrol their perimeter amidst the public
cloudedleopard
Well-Known Member
Was the elephant Jo?
I've seen one of the elephants swaying at the Houston Zoo, but only one. I'm wonder if he came from a different zoo with a lower quality exhibit or something.
San Antonio Zoo elephant has been known to sway. I've seen their jaguar pacing, though she sometimes interacts with people through the glass while doing it, so I'm not sure what's up with that.
San Antonio Zoo elephant has been known to sway. I've seen their jaguar pacing, though she sometimes interacts with people through the glass while doing it, so I'm not sure what's up with that.
cloudedleopard
Well-Known Member
Which elephant was it at Houston?
I am not surprised that Lucky at SA Zoo sways. At the Lake Farmpark in Kirtland, Ohio, the cows sway sometimes.
I am not surprised that Lucky at SA Zoo sways. At the Lake Farmpark in Kirtland, Ohio, the cows sway sometimes.
One of the bulls, I think the biggest one but I don't remember.
At Warsaw Zoo the African hunting dogs pace constantly up and down their enclosure. As you can see from this photo http://www.zoochat.com/273/not-best-painted-wolf-exhibit-393034/ it is a pretty terrible exhibit.
cloudedleopard
Well-Known Member
I think it is Thailand, the male elephant at Hou.
cloudedleopard
Well-Known Member
The tigers at Akron and Cleveland Zoos pace. The bears pace at Cleveland Zoo, too. Also, at the Lake Farmpark in Kirtland, Ohio, the pigs bite the bars and the cows sway from side to side. At Lake Erie Nature and Science Center in Bay Village, Ohio, the skunk paces back and forth. Also, the fennec fox paced at Cincinnati Zoo in 2011, I wonder if the foxes still pace there.
wensleydale
Well-Known Member
I have seen the Elephants sway at Roger Williams Park Zoo, but only during bath time and they always stop when the keepers give them their hay cubes. Maybe this is really excitement over being fed or their impending lathering/rinse. Also, I have seen the Tigers at Southwicks pacing along the side of their enclosure and snarling, however this could be a type of territory patrolling in itself, given the fact that they were being aggressive towards the little kid on the other side of the barrier.
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