stuff about zoos?

Question

i heard that there is a type of mental disorder that zoo animlas can get from being in a zoo for too long. does anyone know what its called and why they get it and what they do if they have it? i am typing a resarch paper about zoos and need more info. also how does the cold and warm weather affect the animlas? like  how do polar bears do in the summer? and how do elephants do in the winter? any other info would help very much. thanks!

Cetacea · Accepted Answer

Are you referring to stereotypy? This is when animals show repetitive and unnatural or even destructive or self-destructive behaviour eg. pacing in big cats. stereotypy occurs when animals do not get enough stimulation from their captive environment. It can take forms as pacing or pattern swimming, rocking backwards and forwards or from side to side, or pulling out hair, that sort of things.
stereotypy can be prevented by providing naturalistic enclosures closely mimicing the animals natural habitat and providing stimulation for them by introducing toys or novel items to challenge and to raise interest. this is most important in predators as their main motivation in life, to hunt, has been removed, this is why they are especially affected by captivity. Environmental enrichment devices are often introduced to specifically stimulate foraging or hunting behaviour,this may be live prey items or whole foods or carcasses.
it can also be caused by stress brought about by exposure to large numbers of noisy visitors as this can stress sensitive animals.
Eventhough it is often said that training is a form of enrichment, this has recently been disproven as although it occupies the animals at that specific point in time, it does not actually result in an increased variety of observed behaviours.
The journals Zoo biology and Applied Animal welfare have a lot of articles on this but sadly they are mostly not free to everyone.

fieldworking · Answer

I did my senior project in college on abnormal behavior in captive chimpanzees. I don't think that there is one specific thing like a mental disorder. I think that it's just boredom. Chimpanzees have been known to eat their own crap, regurgitation, and drinking there urine as well as other repetitive behaviors (the last website could be helpful for you). You can also go to google and type in 'abnormal behavior in (insert animal interested in).' If your library has a way to get a hold of some journal articles that should help as well.

In general, the animals are just bored and are behaving abnormal to relieve the stress of being in a confined area with little to know mental stimulation.

xMCRx · Answer

i would suggest a book that i found relating to your question... mental health and well being in animals, edited by veterinarian dr. franklin d. mcmillan, published 2005 by blackwell scientific publishing

stuff about zoos?

3 Answers