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The effectiveness of environmental enrichment on reducing stereotypic behaviour in two captive vicugna (Vicugna vicugna)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

M Parker ,
D Goodwin ,
E Redhead  and
H Mitchell
M Parker*
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
D Goodwin
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
E Redhead
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
H Mitchell
Affiliation:
Marwell Preservation Trust, Colden Common, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 1JH, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
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Abstract

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Environmental enrichment by increasing foraging behaviour and providing food item choice are widely practised and generally accepted as effective methods for reducing stereotypic behaviour in captive animals. In this study, the effectiveness of increasing foraging patch choice and food item choice on reducing motor stereotypy in two captive vicugna were examined. For the purposes of the study, first, browse was added to the vicugna's enclosure as an additional forage item and, second, the vicugna's normal feed was divided: half being provided in the indoor quarters and half in the outdoor yard. The results revealed that providing browse as an additional forage item increased the observed stereotypic behaviour; however, dividing the vicugna's feed, and therefore increasing forage patch choice, decreased stereotypy. This study was limited because of the small sample size and because the area in which the vicugna were performing stereotypic behaviour was partially visually obscured. However, this study has implications for animal welfare because it highlights the need to evaluate the suitability of foraging enrichment items, and suggests that more research into accommodating the adaptive foraging behaviour of this species in captivity may be necessary.

Keywords

animal welfareendangeredforagingstereotypyVicugna vicugnazoo animals
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , February 2006 , pp. 59 - 62
Copyright
© 2006 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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