Author:

Abstract:

The development of stereotypical behaviour in zoo animals is indicative of an environment in which the animals have unfulfilled behavioural needs and suboptimal welfare. Welfare researchers plead for zero tolerance and zoo visitors perceive stereotypical behaviour as problematic. Wide-ranging carnivores such as large cats are particularly sensitive to the development of locomotory stereotypical behaviour. We investigated the incidence of stereotypical behaviour of jaguars (Panthera onca), leopards (Panthera pardus), lions (Panthera leo), tigers (Panthera tigris) and cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in four Belgian zoos (Olmen, Antwerp, Planckendael, Pairi Daiza). Management practices and enclosure characteristics were documented by observation and a questionnaire. Each enclosures was filmed twice during 20 minutes on four different days in a random order. Five of the 22 adult individuals showed stereotypical behaviour in four of twelve enclosures: a jaguar (54.11% of the observation time), an amour leopard (18.84%), two cheetahs (24.97 and 2.31%) and an African leopard (51.43%). In a cheetah enclosure the pacing animals visually fixated the neighbouring antelopes. The African leopard stereotyped along the border with an Eurasian lynx enclosure. On two occassions aggression of a lion and a tiger towards the visitors was observed. During most of the observations the animals were locked outdoors and could not freely choose to enter the indoor enclosures. At night, most cats including night active species such as tigers, leopard, lion and jaguar, were restricted to smaller indoor enclosures, where behavioural options are limited. Efforts should be maximalized to improve behavioural options for large cats.