Do apprehended saffron finches know how to survive predators? A careful look at reintroduction candidates

Dutra, L; Young, RJ; Galdino, C; Vasconcellos, A

Abstract

Wildlife trafficking is a major factor contributing to the reduction of biological diversity. In Brazil, traf-ficked animals are apprehended by environmental agencies and released in the wild. The maintenance ofwild animals in captivity may jeopardize their survival in the wild, for example, by reducing their abilityto recognize a predator. Saffron finches (Sicalis flaveola) are among the most trafficked Brazilian birds.Twenty-eight apprehended saffron finches were submitted to Temperament and Predator-recognitiontests, with presentation of predator and non-predator models: a live and a taxidermised hawk, a taxi-dermised armadillo and a Lego cube. The captive saffron finches have retained general anti-predatorresponses, such as increasing alertness, avoiding back-facing and keeping distance when presented withpotential predators. The birds responded more strongly to the live hawk than to the cube. Although someresponses to the other stimuli were not statistically different from each other, a decrease in intensityof response with the decrease in threat level was remarkable. We found no relationship between tem-perament traits and responses to predators: a possible consequence of husbandry practices in captivity.Our results indicate saffron finches may retain basic anti-predator responses in captivity, which favoursrelease and reintroduction programmes: information relevant for conservation management.

Citation

Dutra, L., Young, R., Galdino, C., & Vasconcellos, A. (2016). Do apprehended saffron finches know how to survive predators? A careful look at reintroduction candidates. Behavioural Processes, 125, 6-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2016.01.007

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 25, 2016
• Publication Date: Jan 28, 2016
• Deposit Date: Feb 8, 2016
• Journal: Behavioural Processes
• Print ISSN: 0376-6357
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Volume: 125
• Pages: 6-12
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2016.01.007
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2016.01.007
• Related Public URLs: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/behavioural-processes/
• Additional Information: Funders : Minas Gerais Research Foundation—FAPEMIG;Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development—CNPq;Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Level Education Personnel—CAPES