Behavioural efficacy of environmental enrichment in the reduction of stereotypy in captive vicugna (Vicugna vicugna)

Parker, Matthew, Goodwin, Deborah, Redhead, Edward and Mitchell, Heidi (2005) Behavioural efficacy of environmental enrichment in the reduction of stereotypy in captive vicugna (Vicugna vicugna). Association for Behavoiur Analysis Annual Symposium 2005, Chicago, USA. 30 Apr 2005.

Abstract

The proliferation of stereotypies in inhabitants of zoological parks is a major consideration in the assessment of welfare, and can cause severe management problems for zoo keepers. It has been suggested that stereotypies in captive animals are indicative of an abnormal animal-environment interaction and that systematic, controlled alterations to the environment can help to decrease the rate of the behaviours through multi-stimulus enrichment (Shepherdson, Mellen, & Hutchins, 1998). The current study used an ABACA design to investigate the efficacy of increasing forage substrates and foraging opportunities in the reduction of stereotypy in captive vicugna (Vicugna vicugna). When browse were added the incidence of stereotypy increased, but when the animals’ existing forage was split, stereotypy decreased. Increase during the browse condition may have been a result of over-stimulation of the DA system, owing to super-normal stimuli (Appleby, 1996). The decrease seen during the split-feed condition may have resulted from an opportunity to perform a natural response. In the wild, vicugna are reported to eat and sleep in different areas. In the present study, the vicugna were being ordinarily fed solely in their sleeping quarters. The relative reinforcing value of stereotypy may have been lower than that of performing a wild-type behaviour.

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Contributors

Author: Edward Redhead

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