Zoo Animal Behavior Research & Conservation David Shepherdson Ph.D.
IMLS Elephant Welfare Project
Three main areas of welfare assessment 1. Health and basic functioning 2. Feelings (emotions/affective states) 3. Natural living - natural behavior
PROJECT PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS Kathy Carlstead, Honolulu Zoo Janine Brown, Smithsonian s National Zoo Nadja Wielebnowski, Brookfield Zoo David Shepherdson, Oregon Zoo Mike Keele, Oregon Zoo Anne Baker, Toledo Zoo Joy Mench, University of California, Davis Jill Mellen, Disney s Animal Kingdom Candice Dorsey, Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
Additional project personnel 1 PROJECT MANAGER (POSTDOC) 3 CONSULTANTS (PAID) 4 GRADUATE STUDENTS 20 SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATORS 72 ZOOS 290 ELEPHANTS (145 ASIAN, 145 AFRICAN) 450+ ZOOKEEPERS
GOAL To improve the well-being of elephants in zoos by identifying the environmental factors that have negative and positive impacts on the quality of their lives.
Four Parts of the Study I. Census data from zoos (290) II. Welfare assessment of elephants III. Epidemiological models linking I and II IV. Behavior hypothesis-testing
II. WELFARE INDICATORS WHAT WE ARE ASSESSING FOR ALL 290 ELEPHANTS: Body condition, physical exam Fecal form assessment Reproductive hormone profiles Interleukins (TGF-1 TNFa) and Cytokines Insulin, leptin, ghrelin, glucose CBC, neutrophil:heterophil ratio Vitamin, mineral, protein, enzyme, analyses Salivary IgA, cortisol Keeper-directed behavior Keeper assessments of elephant personality and quality of life Keeper assessments of social and non-social behavior frequencies
III. Epidemiological Model 72 zoos 290 elephants ENVIRONMENTAL INPUTS Facilities Diet Herd size Management practices Vet care Rearing and medical history Keeper attitudes and behavior Climate of zoo Enrichment and training WELFARE OUTCOMES Physical well-being Engagement with Environment Psychological state
IV. At fewer zoos we will assess: Movement/Walking distance (GPS) 24 hr. activity budget (video) incl. play, sleep, stereotypy, social and non-social behaviors, social distances
Elephant movement hypotheses As an Output variable Larger Exhibit size = more movement Larger social group = more movement Outside nocturnal access = more movement Husbandry practices impact movement As an Input variable More movement = greater physical wellbeing More movement = better psychological state
Oregon Zoo Species Recovery Programs California Condor Pygmy Rabbit Oregon Silver Spot Butterfly Taylors Checkerspot Butterfly Western Pond Turtle Oregon Spotted Frog
California Condor Breeding and 22 birds taken from wild 12 condors arrive at Condor Creek Conservation Facility in 2003 9 chicks hatched 1 st Oregon Zoo Condor released October 2005! Reproductive behavior monitored remotely Research 154 32
Lead Poisoning
Pygmy Rabbit Smallest rabbit species in N. America Sister taxon to cottontails (Sylvalagus spp.) Digs natal burrows Eats sage brush Climbs
Genetic Analysis Unique, distinct; likely a subspecies Documented loss of genetic diversity Historic Range - Great Basin from SW Montana and SW Utah on the East to Central Nevada & NE California on the West
Habitat Sage brush step Deep soil Washington Distribution
7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Number of Pygmy Rabbit Sites 1995 1997 1999 2001 2002 Extinct in the wild by 2003 Estimate of Active Burrows at Sagebrush Flat 250 200 150 100 50 0 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
Extinct in the wild by 2003 Conversion Fire Disease Predation Inbreeding?
Captive Breeding Goals Ensure maintenance of unique WA genetics Produce sufficient numbers to re-establish populations
Research Behavior Diet Disease Endocrinology Mate Choice
Mate Choice Female Male Male Male Male Female Male
Table 1. Components of reproductive fitness by pairing type. Numbers and mean values ( s.e) for various traits related to litter production by Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits Pairing Type Variable Neighbors Non-neighbors Preferred Non-preferred Total mate pairings 29 25 13 13 Litters produced 22 8 10 4 Litters emerged 12 3 5 1 Litters survived to one year 13 1 5 1 Total kits produced 85 23 36 12 Total kits emerged 48 3 18 4 Total kits survived to one year 20 2 16 4 Average kits per litter 4.0 (1.1) 2.9 (1.4) 3.7 (0.9) 2.7 (1.1) Average kits per litter emerged 2.18 (2.1) 0.38 (0.52) 1.8 (0.6) 1.0 (1.0) Male age (days) 436.6 (163.3) 445.6 (198.9) 408.6 (44.7) 419.2 (46.9) Female age (days) 466.9 (203.6) 532.8 (264.3) 444.2 (65.0) 510.3 (65.5) Male body mass (g) 378.6 (29.7) 379.8 (87.2) 383.4 (7.7) 378.6 (8.1) Female body mass (g) 429.2 (41.6) 430.8 (67.3) 437.5 (10.6) 464.6 (19.5)
Martin, M. and D. Shepherdson (2012). "The role of familiarity and preference on reproductive success in ex-situ conservation breeding programs." Conservation Biology 26(4).
Time Line 2013 2012 Translocation of wild rabbits 2011 Release of all remaining captive animals 2006 First Release Hybridized with Idaho rabbits 2002 2003 Extinct in the wild Emergency USA listing INEEL Release 2000 CBP rabbits bred at OZ/WSU/NWT Idaho Rabbits Bred at OZ
First Release in 2006 20 Rabbits
Time Line 2013 2012 Translocation of wild rabbits 2011 Release of all remaining captive animals 2006 First Release Hybridized with Idaho rabbits 2002 2003 Extinct in the wild Emergency USA listing INEEL Release 2000 CBP rabbits bred at OZ/WSU/NWT Idaho Rabbits Bred at OZ
Oregon Spotted Frog WDFW partners since 1999 Egg mass surveys in March Captive rearing began 2008 App. 3000 frogs released to date First egg masses observed 2011 Behavior experiments underway
Status WDFW Endangered Recovery Plan in prep. Federal Candidate since 1991 Currently under federal review M. Durham, Oregon Zoo
Distribution Oregon Spotted frog (R. Pretiosa) recently differentiated from Columbia Spotted frog (R. luteiventris) Lost from 78%-90% of former range and all of California Black River NWR Conboy Lake NWR Oregon spotted frog distribution in the Pacific Northwest. Locality data are from McAllister et al. (1993), Hayes (1994, 1997), Haycock (2000). Map is from Cushman and Pearl (2007).
Egg Mass Census Surveys
Conboy Lake Egg Mass counts
Egg Mass Survey - Field Work Contact (this week): David.shepherdson@oregonzoo.org Subject heading: Conboy Every weekend in March starting Feb 23rd
Egg Collection Eggs collected at Conboy and Black River 20 per egg mass 400-800/institution
Ex-Situ Rearing Woodland Park Zoo Oregon Zoo
Ex-Situ Rearing Cedar Creek Correction Center NorthWest Trek
Fall Release at Dailman Lake Oregon Zoo Woodland Park Zoo Cedar Creek Correctional Center NW Trek b Released Held over winter Released Held over winter Released Held over winter Released Held over winter 2008 16 147 0 0 0 0 ~532 0 2009 31 0 436 47 67 0 0 0 2010 234 6 643 0 86 0 387 8 2011 98 58 698 7 162 0 222 2 3,612 released to date Click for video
Dailman Lake Oviposition 2011
Understanding Bull Frog Predation Are there population level differences in behavior between frogs from habitat with and without bullfrogs? M. Durham, Oregon Zoo
Latency to Respond - Source Conboy frogs react faster than Black River Kyle Tidwell PSU/OZ Marc Hayes WDFW
Other ongoing behavioral research projects Elephant pre-parturition behavior Orangutan post occupancy Cognition (elephants, Orangutans) Behavior monitoring Endocrinology Lab
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