Behavioral monitoring in zoos and aquariums: a tool for guiding husbandry and directing research.
Behavioral monitoring is the scientific collection of animal behavior data to understand normal patterns of behavior and changes in these patterns. This tool is underutilized in the zoo industry although it can be an effective indicator of many potential problems that compromise zoo animal well-being. We suggest that a behavioral monitoring program should be a core component of a zoological institution's care program. We detail the benefits of such a program and describe its components. We provide guidelines for implementing such a program and make recommendations that will help institutions to employ behavioral monitoring programs with reasonable expense. We argue that the benefits of such a program, primarily increased detection of rising or potential problems, far outweigh the minor costs of implementation.
Watters
Jason V
JV
Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, Illinois 60513, USA. jason.watters@czs.org
Margulis
Susan W
SW
Atsalis
Sylvia
S
D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D035841:Behavioral Research / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D012919:Social Behavior; D013223:Statistics as Topic / Q000379:methods