Controversy of Captivity : Behavior Problems

When we think of animals in captivity the first thought is usually animals in zoos. However, there are many more types of abusive captivity out there in which animals are currently living:  puppy mills, aquariums, marine mammal parks, pet stores, factory farming, gestation crates, circuses, and the list goes on.

Animals that live in human care are in captivity.  Dogs were domesticated as early as 15,000 BC, but throughout history not only pets and livestock were kept in human care, but also wild animals in menageries and zoos.

The menagerie at Versailles, constructed by Louis XIV in the 1660's.

Most modern zoos make great efforts to create a habitat as close to the animals' natural environment as possible. However due to the nature of traveling circuses, factory farming, and puppy mills, animals in those situations are trapped in tiny enclosures and abusive environments. Those enterprises use animals for profit, so to maximize profit, they minimize expenses (at the animal's suffering).

Occasionally these captive animals, particularly those non-domestic wild animals, develop repetitive and purposeless behaviors called stereotypical behaviors or zoochosis. These behaviors include pacing, self-mutilation, over-grooming, swaying, head bobbing, and bar biting, to name a few.

If you have been to a zoo, pet store, or circus, then I guarantee some of these will look familiar to you:

Pacing

This is very common, I'd be very surprised if you haven't seen this before.  This usually causes well worn paths in the ground, and is often seen with big cats and wolves in captivity.

There can be a few reasons why an animal might pace, some theories include pre-feeding anticipation, checking on or marking territory, or an old habit ingrained from a previous small zoo enclosure.  However, as in the example in the video below, the enclosures are very small, with no behavioral enrichment opportunities (more on behavioral enrichment further down):

Bar biting

Includes licking, biting, chewing the walls or bars. Often seen in giraffes and primates.

Swaying, Rocking, Head Bobbing

Standing in one place and repetitively swaying back and forth. Seen in many different animals, particularly bears and elephants.





See more Stereotypical Behavior patterns here.

How to combat stereotypical behavior? Behavioral Enrichment!

So, now that we know what to look for, what is the best treatment?  The answer is Behavioral Enrichment.  I give the Sea Lion narration for feedings and enrichment sessions at the Central Park Zoo, and the way we explain Behavioral Enrichment is as follows:

"If you've ever played fetch with a dog or given a cat a scratching post, that is all behavioral enrichment. It encourages animals to do behaviors that are good for both their physical and mental well-being. Behavioral enrichment gives animals at the zoo something active to do and something intellectual to focus on."

Excellent buffalo enrichment for the lions at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
The buffalo was built so keepers can attach meat, rawhide, and play sounds from it, to further enhance the lions' enrichment experience.

Adorable example of behavioral enrichment for a captive juvenile Giant Panda. SO CUTE.

Puzzle feeders, such as the one these Polar Bear brothers are enjoying, are very popular enrichment items.

Most enrichment stimuli can be divided into six groups: Sensory stimulation, feeding, manipulation (by the animal, ie toys), environmental (habitat enhancement), social (interacting with other animals), training, and puzzles.  Enclosures in modern zoos work very hard to facilitate all means of environmental and behavioral enrichment.

Behavioral enrichment in pets

This practice of stimulating animals to prevent boredom and behavioral issues goes well beyond animals in zoos.

An example of enrichment toys for a captive macaw.

As I've learned from Jackson Galaxy on My Cat From Hell, and Cesar Millan on The Dog Whisperer, a host of behavior problems in pets can be resolved through play, exercise, and "Catification" (Jackson Galaxy's term for creating feline-friendly environments in your home to accommodate a cat's natural instincts).  In other words, enrichment.




In this video Cesar talks about how to select the right rescue dog for you, and demonstrates his best dog-walking tips and tricks:



Abusive captive environments lacking enrichment and appropriate husbandry can have long-reaching effects for its former captives, even once they are freed from their prisons.  For example, dogs or animals that originate from puppy mills or pet store breeding-mills have many more behavioral problems than those that come from breeders.

Just another reason to "ADOPT DON'T SHOP"!


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