Animals fare better in zoos as experts learn more (wrong)

May 31, 2008

Um, I don't think a blood test shows stress like behaviour! Notice most of the comments about how well they do are from zoo officials. AZA SUCKS! Animals fare better in zoos as experts learn more Fri May 30, 2008 11:37pm BST By Andrew Stern CHICAGO (Reuters) - Scientists are learning more about how zoo animals feel and how a toy or a little training can sometimes help cut the endless pacing and other repetitive behaviours that are often assumed to be signs of distress. Some big cats want a high perch from which to view visitors,

polar bears want to scratch for hidden caches of food, and male barn swallows could use a tail extension to appeal to potential mates, according to experts from zoos and universities meeting on Friday at Chicago's Brookfield Zoo. Visitors who see a cheetah pacing or a polar bear swimming in circles might assume they are stressed by confinement. But they may simply be expending excess energy or soothing themselves, experts said interviews at the symposium. "We humans swim laps, and people take comfort in walking in circles. As long is it not injuring the animals, and not causing them pain, it may not be a sign of poor welfare," said Nadja Wielebnowski of the Chicago Zoological Society. Wielebnowski measures stress hormones in zoo animals and her work is helping guide efforts to reduce stress when animals are moved, come in close contact with humans or are exposed to noise. "Some species do absolutely great in zoos -- they get great food, they get it every day, they have great veterinary care. For some species, the zoo trumps the wild," said David Shepherdson of the Oregon Zoo in Portland. But some species, like elephants, large cats, and bears, often do not fare as well. In a study of polar bears in U.S. zoos, Shepherdson found 50 of 54 bears displayed behavioural symptoms of stress, but they showed no elevated levels of corticosteroids, which are hormones that indicate stress, he said. Shepherdson found about half the animals reduced their repetitive behaviour when give some training or playthings that helped them mimic behaviour in the wild. For example, polar bears given a plastic barrel tended to crush it just as they would a seal den in the Arctic. NOT BELONGING Experts are also discussing whether certain species, like certain types of leopard, do not belong in zoos at all because they prefer to remain out of sight. "Essentially, we need to go against the knee-jerk human reaction, which is the view that (zoo animals) need companionship, they need a large enclosure, and that they are only interested in the world visually," said Vicki Melfi of Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust, which runs the Paignton Zoo in Britain. She said animals more sensitive to smell should be accommodated, for instance, by not disinfecting their enclosures frequently so as not to wipe out scent markings. Other animals sensitive to sounds might be offered a dark, quiet corner to retreat to. Wielebnowski suggested zoos might consider exercise equipment for animals to burn off energy. Wayne Pacelle, president of

the Humane Society of the United States, said measuring hormone levels may not tell the story as well as observing listless or repetitive behaviour. "You don't want a shell of an animal on display," he said. "Zoos are here to stay and they should make efforts to enrich animals' lives and they should ask a number of other questions about the suitability of certain species in captivity." --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ ** Commentary is not allowed on AR-News, however, we have a daily AR-NEWS LETTERS email that we send out. If you would like to submit a letter for consideration, fire it over to ARNewsLetters ** To yourself from this list, send email to AR-News- (AT) googl (DOT) com ** For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.comAR-News

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June 3, 2008

The big cats need huge expanses of territory to roam - Cheetahs reach speeds of racehorses, horse people wouldn't dream of keeping their horses in cages, ok they are confined in stables for long periods but they do get out every day - and they are bred into that kind of life, how can these magnificent creatures enjoy life in cages with toys...its just so very heartbreaking that they are confined for human enjoyment. I am sure that some species dont mind being in captivity, being assured of good food and safety from predators..but elephant herds travel hundreds of miles, in zoos they dont even have one mile...even tortoises will try and escape their enclosures - freedom, everything needs some kind of freedom.

- Shannon Morgan

animalconnectiontx ; Animal Rights Resources ; animalrightsandvegans ; Animals Advocates ; AnimalsNeedUsNow ; ARAs ; extreme-animal-rights ; Fortheanimals7 ; ; In Solidarity with Animals ; Planet4Animals ; Speak 4 Animals ; Vegan_Animal_Rights

Saturday, May 31, 2008 2:43 PM

Animals fare better in zoos as experts learn more (wrong)

Um, I don't think a blood test shows stress like behaviour! Notice most of the comments about how well they do are from zoo officials. AZA SUCKS!

Animals fare better in zoos as experts learn more

Fri May 30, 2008 11:37pm BST

By Andrew Stern

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Scientists are learning more about how zoo animals feel and how a toy or a little training can sometimes help cut the endless pacing and other repetitive behaviours that are often assumed to be signs of distress.

Some big cats want a high perch from which to view visitors, polar bears want to scratch for hidden caches of food, and male barn swallows could use a tail extension to appeal to potential mates, according to experts from zoos and universities meeting on Friday at Chicago's Brookfield Zoo.

Visitors who see a cheetah pacing or a polar bear swimming in circles might assume they are stressed by confinement. But they may simply be expending excess energy or soothing themselves, experts said interviews at the symposium.

"We humans swim laps, and people take comfort in walking in circles. As long is it not injuring the animals, and not causing them pain, it may not be a sign of poor welfare," said Nadja Wielebnowski of the Chicago Zoological Society.

Wielebnowski measures stress hormones in zoo animals and her work is helping guide efforts to reduce stress when animals are moved, come in close contact with humans or are exposed to noise.

"Some species do absolutely great in zoos -- they get great food, they get it every day, they have great veterinary care. For some species, the zoo trumps the wild," said David Shepherdson of the Oregon Zoo in Portland.

But some species, like elephants, large cats, and bears, often do not fare as well.

In a study of polar bears in U.S. zoos, Shepherdson found 50 of 54 bears displayed behavioural symptoms of stress, but they showed no elevated levels of corticosteroids, which are hormones that indicate stress, he said.

Shepherdson found about half the animals reduced their repetitive behaviour when give some training or playthings that helped them mimic behaviour in the wild.

For example, polar bears given a plastic barrel tended to crush it just as they would a seal den in the Arctic.

NOT BELONGING

Experts are also discussing whether certain species, like certain types of leopard, do not belong in zoos at all because they prefer to remain out of sight.

"Essentially, we need to go against the knee-jerk human reaction, which is the view that (zoo animals) need companionship, they need a large enclosure, and that they are only interested in the world visually," said Vicki Melfi of Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust, which runs the Paignton Zoo in Britain.

She said animals more sensitive to smell should be accommodated, for instance, by not disinfecting their enclosures frequently so as not to wipe out scent markings. Other animals sensitive to sounds might be offered a dark, quiet corner to retreat to.

Wielebnowski suggested zoos might consider exercise equipment for animals to burn off energy.

Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States, said measuring hormone levels may not tell the story as well as observing listless or repetitive behaviour.

"You don't want a shell of an animal on display," he said. "Zoos are here to stay and they should make efforts to enrich animals' lives and they should ask a number of other questions about the suitability of certain species in captivity." --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~

** Commentary is not allowed on AR-News, however, we have a daily AR-NEWS LETTERS email that we send out. If you would like to submit a letter for consideration, fire it over to ARNewsLetters

** To yourself from this list, send email to AR-News- (AT) googl (DOT) com

** For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.comAR-News or http://www.AR-News.org

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