Hmm...I wandered over here from [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com]. Hope you don't mind that I friended you, I remember we talked about the similiarities before (the fact that I worked at a natural history museum with a similar animal collection).
Anyway, I read this with great interest as I spent a great deal of my life studying these types of things (got my B.S. in Animal Behavior). That said, there's a few things I'd like to say and please feel free to comment, disagree, whatever. I'm also pretty immensely scatterbrained right now, so I apologize in advance if I make no sense :).
First, I wouldn't call pacing or improper behavior "stereotype." If you call it stereotype, that would imply that it is a correct, and often observed behavior. I would hope that pacing, weaving, rubbing, or any other of these "bad" behaviors aren't observed often, as they represent stress or unhappiness. For example, a bored horse will often weave at their stall door, or they might paw at the stall door. These behaviors are bad, and certainly not stereotypical of "normal" behavior. I'd be more inclined to call these behaviors maladaptive.
The big enrichment tool at the museum I worked at was out-of-cage time. For example, small mammals (skunks, rabbit, ferrets, etc.) each had one whole day that they spent in a dedicated room. The room was fairly large, had lots of hides and play type things, and the floor was covered in bedding. The space was pretty huge in comparison to the animal, and they were free to romp around/sleep/do whatever they wished for the day. Of course, the room was *thoroughly* cleaned, disinfected, etc. before another animal was allowed in.
Each raptor had their day in a big flight room, which was equipped with perches, trees, etc. Gave them the opportunity for them to get out and stretch their wings (those of 'em that had wings!).
Tortises were allowed free roam of the entire reptile room all day. There wasn't anything dangerous they could get into, and they had their typical spots they hung out in -- they also had access to food, water, and a basking light. Mainly they were more concerned with "tasting" peoples' toes, though.
Parrots were allowed out-of-cage all day. Both had their wings clipped, and they would hang out on their cages all day, playing with various things (one would also throw paper towels at the ferret cage incessantly!).
Our ducks (mallards, female named "Duck duck" and male named "Duck" -original, huh?) spent the entire day in a big pool we had for them. It was built into the floor, and actually right between the two parrot cages. The one parrot used to throw things at the ducks too.
One place I worked gave Nylabones to their rats/mice/guinea pigs. I'd imagine that they would also be safe for other mammals, but I'm honestly not sure on that one.
When I used to work with horses, a favorite was empty milk jugs or empty laundry detergent bottles (thorougly cleaned) hung inside their stall. They would bash them around 'til they were pretty much destroyed.
When I worked with lemurs in school, I did a whole study trying to determine if novelty seeking behavior was a correlate of "personality." For the novel object, I gave them baby play gyms (you know the things you lay an infant under, and they bat about at the things above their head). Lemurs are very tactile, and they handled it, and examined it all over. You wouldn't want such a thing in a cage with very chew-y type animals, however. Plus, the whole thing was videotaped, so we could intervene if necessary (I was in another room, watching the feed).
I'd approach the topic of promoting enrichment to the public *very* carefully. The last thing you want is some idiot planting treat-filled logs or similar things in their lawn because it will enrich the OMGKUTE! wildlife.
I'd say that enrichment serves the purpose of enhancing captive life. It can't replicate wild life, but it can help improve mood and general well-being. A happy animal is going to have proper coat quality, and improved condition, which will, as you said, help increase well-being and hopefully cut down on vet expenses!
All that said, you're at Drumlin?! I could walk there! I work right in Weston center, on B.P. Road.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2005-07-21 05:17 pm (UTC)Anyway, I read this with great interest as I spent a great deal of my life studying these types of things (got my B.S. in Animal Behavior). That said, there's a few things I'd like to say and please feel free to comment, disagree, whatever. I'm also pretty immensely scatterbrained right now, so I apologize in advance if I make no sense :).
First, I wouldn't call pacing or improper behavior "stereotype." If you call it stereotype, that would imply that it is a correct, and often observed behavior. I would hope that pacing, weaving, rubbing, or any other of these "bad" behaviors aren't observed often, as they represent stress or unhappiness. For example, a bored horse will often weave at their stall door, or they might paw at the stall door. These behaviors are bad, and certainly not stereotypical of "normal" behavior. I'd be more inclined to call these behaviors maladaptive.
The big enrichment tool at the museum I worked at was out-of-cage time. For example, small mammals (skunks, rabbit, ferrets, etc.) each had one whole day that they spent in a dedicated room. The room was fairly large, had lots of hides and play type things, and the floor was covered in bedding. The space was pretty huge in comparison to the animal, and they were free to romp around/sleep/do whatever they wished for the day. Of course, the room was *thoroughly* cleaned, disinfected, etc. before another animal was allowed in.
Each raptor had their day in a big flight room, which was equipped with perches, trees, etc. Gave them the opportunity for them to get out and stretch their wings (those of 'em that had wings!).
Tortises were allowed free roam of the entire reptile room all day. There wasn't anything dangerous they could get into, and they had their typical spots they hung out in -- they also had access to food, water, and a basking light. Mainly they were more concerned with "tasting" peoples' toes, though.
Parrots were allowed out-of-cage all day. Both had their wings clipped, and they would hang out on their cages all day, playing with various things (one would also throw paper towels at the ferret cage incessantly!).
Our ducks (mallards, female named "Duck duck" and male named "Duck" -original, huh?) spent the entire day in a big pool we had for them. It was built into the floor, and actually right between the two parrot cages. The one parrot used to throw things at the ducks too.
One place I worked gave Nylabones to their rats/mice/guinea pigs. I'd imagine that they would also be safe for other mammals, but I'm honestly not sure on that one.
When I used to work with horses, a favorite was empty milk jugs or empty laundry detergent bottles (thorougly cleaned) hung inside their stall. They would bash them around 'til they were pretty much destroyed.
When I worked with lemurs in school, I did a whole study trying to determine if novelty seeking behavior was a correlate of "personality." For the novel object, I gave them baby play gyms (you know the things you lay an infant under, and they bat about at the things above their head). Lemurs are very tactile, and they handled it, and examined it all over. You wouldn't want such a thing in a cage with very chew-y type animals, however. Plus, the whole thing was videotaped, so we could intervene if necessary (I was in another room, watching the feed).
I'd approach the topic of promoting enrichment to the public *very* carefully. The last thing you want is some idiot planting treat-filled logs or similar things in their lawn because it will enrich the OMGKUTE! wildlife.
I'd say that enrichment serves the purpose of enhancing captive life. It can't replicate wild life, but it can help improve mood and general well-being. A happy animal is going to have proper coat quality, and improved condition, which will, as you said, help increase well-being and hopefully cut down on vet expenses!
All that said, you're at Drumlin?! I could walk there! I work right in Weston center, on B.P. Road.