Environmental enrichment effect on fecal glucocorticoid metabolites and captive maned wolf (chrysocyon brachyurus) behavior

Coelho, CM; de Azevedo, CS; Guimarães, M; Young, RJ

Abstract

Environmental enrichment is a technique that may reduce the stress of nonhuman animals in captivity. Stress may interfere with normal behavioral expression and affect cognitive decision making. Noninvasive hormonal studies
can provide important information about the stress statuses of animals. This study evaluated the effectiveness of different environmental enrichment treatments in the diminution of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (stress
indicators) of three captive maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus). Correlations of the fecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels with expressed behaviors were also
determined. Results showed that environmental enrichment reduced fecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels. Furthermore, interspecific and foraging enrichment items were most effective in reducing stress in two of the three
wolves. No definite pattern was found between behavioral and physiological responses to stress. In conclusion, these behavioral and physiological data showed that maned wolves responded positively from an animal well being perspective to the enrichment items presented.

Citation

Coelho, C., de Azevedo, C., Guimarães, M., & Young, R. (2016). Environmental enrichment effect on fecal glucocorticoid metabolites and captive maned wolf (chrysocyon brachyurus) behavior. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 19(4), 353-362. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2016.1161512

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Apr 8, 2016
• Publication Date: Apr 8, 2016
• Deposit Date: Apr 13, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
• Print ISSN: 1088-8705
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-7604
• Publisher: Routledge
• Volume: 19
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 353-362
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2016.1161512
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2016.1161512
• Related Public URLs: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/haaw20/current
• Additional Information: Funders : CEMIG;FAPEMIG;CNPq