Enriching Tortoises: assessing color preference

Passos, L; Melo, H; Young, RJ

Abstract

Environmental enrichment is a principle that is used to enhance the quality of care for nonhuman
animals in captivity. To achieve this, it is necessary to understand the animal’s needs. This study
focused on color preference to provide food stimuli as a source of environmental enrichment for
the tortoise, Chelonoidis denticulata. During this study, the stimuli green-, blue-, yellow-, and
red-colored bananas and plaster blocks were randomly offered to the tortoises. Analysis of the data
showed that the tortoises had a preference for the stimuli dyed with colors red and yellow over the
other presented colors. It was possible to conclude that presenting food in different colors stimulated
the animals to evaluate their environment and make choices in relation to their color preference.
Thus, this experiment introduced an element of choice into their lives, beyond identifying color
food preferences for the tortoises. The element of choice is known to be important to animal
welfare.

Citation

Passos, L., Melo, H., & Young, R. (2014). Enriching Tortoises: assessing color preference. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 17(3), 274-281. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2014.917556

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Jun 9, 2014
• Publication Date: Jun 9, 2014
• Deposit Date: Jan 20, 2015
• Journal: Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
• Print ISSN: 1088-8705
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-7604
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 274-281
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2014.917556
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2014.917556
• Related Public URLs: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/haaw20#.VL5Azqh_suc
• Additional Information: Funders : CAPES;Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico;Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do estado de Minas Gerais