Captive-born collared peccaries learning about their predators : lessons learnt but not remembered

de Faria, CM; de Souza Sá, F; Lovenstain Costa, DD; da Silva, MM; da Silva, BC; Young, RJ; de Azevedo, CS

Abstract

Captive-born animals frequently lose their anti-predatory abilities due to the absence of encounters with their predators, but these abilities can be regained through specific training. Anti-predator training can, thus, enhance the success of reintroduction programs with predator naïve animals. In addition, a good memory is important to guarantee the effects of the anti-predator training and increase survival rate after release into the wild. In the present study, anti-predator training sessions were applied to 11 captive-born collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu), followed by memory tests at 30, 60 and 90 days after the end of the training sessions. The collared peccaries responded appropriately to training against predators, showing alert, escape and predator avoidance behaviors after anti-predator training; however, the animals maintained these acquired behaviors for only 30 days after the end of the anti-predator training. After 60 days, peccaries responded to the predator in a ‘relaxed’ manner, exhibiting no anti-predator behaviors. For the trained collared peccaries to be released into the wild, reinforcement in the anti-predator training would be required at least 30 days prior to release.

Citation

de Faria, C., de Souza Sá, F., Lovenstain Costa, D., da Silva, M., da Silva, B., Young, R., & de Azevedo, C. (2020). Captive-born collared peccaries learning about their predators : lessons learnt but not remembered. Behavioural Processes, 171, 104031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2019.104031

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 30, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Dec 31, 2019
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: Apr 1, 2020
• Journal: Behavioural Processes
• Print ISSN: 0376-6357
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Volume: 171
• Pages: 104031
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2019.104031
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2019.104031
• Related Public URLs: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/behavioural-processes
• Additional Information: Additional Information : ** Article version: AM ** Embargo end date: 02-01-2021 ** From Elsevier via Jisc Publications Router ** Licence for AM version of this article starting on 02-01-2021: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ **Journal IDs: issn 03766357 **History: issue date 29-02-2020; published_online 02-01-2020; accepted 30-12-2019; Funders : Vallourec;CAPES (Brazilian Research Agency);Fazenda Engenho D´água; Grant Number: 88881.064952/2014-01