A holis(c Veterinary approach to cap(ve wildlife welfare

Transcription

1 A holis(c Veterinary approach to cap(ve wildlife welfare Dr Heather J. Bacon BSc BVSc CertZooMed MRCVS Jeanne Marchig Interna(onal Centre for Animal Welfare Educa(on University of Edinburgh

2 The role of the modern zoo?

3 Why is good welfare so important? Conserva(on Popula(ons must be fit for breeding and reintroduc(on purposes, poor welfare can lead to stress, suppression of immune func(on and a decrease in reproduc(ve fitness

4 Why is good welfare so important? Educa(on Animals should exhibit natural behaviours to educate the public about their natural habits

5 Why is good welfare so important? Research Healthy animals exhibi(ng natural behaviours can give us valuable informa(on on how their wild counterparts live and behave

6 OIE World Organisa(on for Animal Health The role of the veterinarian is essen/al Adequate veterinary care: Promo/ng an animal s health and welfare providing guidance and advice based on best prac/ce. The veterinarian should have the authority and responsibility for making judgements regarding animal welfare. Governance and communica(on are vital

7 What is welfare? Good animal welfare implies the absence of pain, fear, and hunger; enables a high level of biological func/oning (i.e., normal growth, freedom from disease); and (more controversially) enables animals to experience posi/ve emo/onal experiences such as comfort and contentment Fraser et al. 1997

8 ...animals experiencing enhanced welfare should be free of behaviors that are abnormal or indica/ve of fear and frustra/on. They should ac/vely explore and interact with their environment and demonstrate a diversity of behavior similar to that typically observed in the wild.. Posi(ve Reinforcement and environmental enrichment: enhancing animal well being Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Associa(on

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10 Five Freedoms 1. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour. 2. Freedom from Discomfort by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable res(ng area. 3. Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease by preven(on or rapid diagnosis and treatment. 4. Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour by providing sufficient space, proper facili(es and company of the animal's own kind. 5. Freedom from Fear and Distress by ensuring condi(ons and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

11 Physical Health Preven(ve Vs Proac(ve Nutri(on Biosecurity How much do wildlife species demonstrate physical pain? Osteoarthri(s Dental disease Ocular disease

12 Behavioural health and drives Animals experience strong neurobiological drives to fulfil certain self rewarding behavioural ac(vi(es even if all physical needs are met

13 How do we know what animals need? Most of the (me We don t Opportuni(es to make their own choices

14 Defining behaviour Natural behaviour has been defined as a behaviour that is typically observed in the wild; it is adap(ve in the evolu(onary sense (i.e.) has evolved by natural selec(on which allows an individual to survive more easily in its par(cular environment and so gives it a beder chance of leaving offspring than an animal not so adapted (Poole, 1988b, p. 3). Unnatural behaviour is defined as a behaviour that is not seen in the wild. Not all unnatural behaviours are regarded as abnormal, however, as they may promote success within the cap(ve environment (Poole, 1988b, p. 3 4).

15 Defining Behaviour Normal behaviour will promote the success and survival of the individual and its gene(c contribu(on to the popula(on and is clearly appropriate to the par(cular situa(on. It may also be either natural or unnatural (Poole, 1988b, p. 4). Abnormal behaviour is defined as a behaviour that is rarely seen in wild popula(ons and does not promote the success and the survival of the individual or its close rela(ves (i.e. it does not increase fitness). It appears not to be goal oriented, so that its func(on is not apparent. It may include elements of normal ac(vi(es, but they are performed in an inappropriate fashion (Poole, 1988b, p. 4).

16 Abnormal Behaviours a mental health issue? Displacement Behaviors arising out of conflict when an animal is driven to perform two behaviours at the same (me e.g. when an aggressive keeper offers food the animal may be conflicted between the fear of the keeper and the desire to get the food ojen displayed as licking, grooming, locomo(on or vocalisa(on Redirected Behaviors Activity directed away from the principle target and toward another less appropriate target E.g. redirected aggression often seen in primates

17 What is stereotypy? hdp://

18 What is stereotypy? Repe((ve, invariant behavior paderns with no obvious goal or func(on Derived from normal motor paderns Develop slowly; early on may be more flexible With (me, paderns become more rigid Eventually, they are performed even when original s(muli is not present

19 What causes stereotypy? Sub op(mal environments Lack of social contact or s(mula(on as a young animal Fewer neurons, decreased dendri(c branching and reduced synap(c connec(vity Gene(c predisposi(on Lack of opportunity to express natural behavioural drives

20 What causes stereotypy? Unavoidable stress or fear Lack of sensory s(mula(on and or behavioral opportuni(es that lead to: Frustra(on Conflict, etc. Always associated with a sub op(mal environment One common factor FRUSTRATION

21 Origins of stereotypy FrustraHon When an individual is highly mo(vated to perform a behavior but Is restricted from doing so. Conflict When an individual is mo(vated to perform two opposing behaviors at the same (me.

22 Whatever the original reason for repea(ng the behavior, repe((on strengthens the performance by sensi(zing the neuronal pathways involved!

23 Mental Health Stress S(muli or stressors causing an altera(on to an organisms physiological homeostasis and/or psychological well being Eustress Distress

24 Eustress Distress Good Stress Fight or Flight Response Able to adapt, cope and regain physiological +/ psychological homeostasis Bad Stress Cumula(ve/Chronic Stress Unable to adapt, cope, and fail to regain physiological +/ psychological homeostasis

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26 Importance of Minimizing Stress in Cap(vity Recent advances in stress research have now lead to the realiza(on that certain preclinical and clinical symptoms may be resul(ng from physiological and psychological distress in the cap(ve environment. Freedom from distress thus represents another essen(al component for the establishment of overall well being. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical AssociaHon

27 Behavioural Management Strategies Behavioural management allows the development of proac(ve standards for the care and psychological well being of cap(ve animals Behavioural management incorporates appropriate veterinary care, environmental enrichment, training, animal behaviour issues, and exhibit architecture and husbandry.

28 Behavioural Management Strategies Requires a holis(c and coopera(ve approach from veterinary, animal keeping and management staff

29 Enclosure design many studies have demonstrated that animals prefer their enclosures to include complexity, variety, challenge and op(ons, rather than just space BIAZA

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32 Environmental Enrichment 1. Food Scader feeding, smears 2. Auditory Music, vocalisa(ons 3. Tac(le Substrates, toys 4. Cogni(ve Puzzle feeders, coconuts 5. Olfactory Essen(al oils, dung 6. Visual Banners, flags, mirrors

33 Enrichment

34 Enrichment Calendar

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37 Operant Condi(oning Can be useful as a management tool Must be enjoyable and progressive May be helpful as an educa(onal tool

38 Human animal interac(on Staff Visitors

39 Rou(ne Health screening Daily keeper checks Regular team mee(ngs Rou(ne visual and/or physical screening

40 Veterinary Interven(ons Pharmacology An( psycho(cs Haloperidol, thioridazine, risperidone, sulpiride. Anxioly(cs Diazepam, alprazolam hop:// proceedings/eazwv/2004/ Anaesthesia/ Anesthesia2.pdf

41 Summary As veterinarians we a responsibility to ensure the physical, mental and behavioural health of our animals This requires a holis(c, integrated approach amongst the different zoo staff Behavioural problems may be mul(factorial and complex to address Preven(on is beder than cure!

42 Thank you