title: Activity Budgets of Captive Cape Fur Seals (Arctocephalus pusillus) Under a Training Regime.
abstract: Ethograms and time budgets are crucial for the behavioral assessment of nonhuman animals in zoos, and they serve as references for welfare research. This study was conducted to obtain detailed time budgets of trained Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus) in captivity, to evaluate variations of these patterns, and to determine whether abnormal behaviors had been displayed. Behavioral data for 3 Cape fur seals in the Wroclaw Zoo were collected, and more than 300 observation hours (during a 12-month period) per individual were analyzed. The studied animals exhibited a diversified repertoire of natural behaviors with apparent seasonal and daily patterns, and they did not present stereotypic behaviors. Significant differences of interaction rates between individuals suggest more frequent affiliative interactions among related animals. The absence of stereotypic behaviors, good health of individuals, and the presence of diversified natural behaviors indicated relatively good welfare of Cape fur seals kept in the Wroclaw Zoo.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Behavioral Ecology , Institute of Environmental Biology, University of Wroclaw , Wroclaw , Poland.
authors.forename: Kaja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wierucka
authors.affiliation: a Department of Behavioral Ecology , Institute of Environmental Biology, University of Wroclaw , Wroclaw , Poland.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siemianowska
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pathology , Wroclaw Medical University , Wroclaw , Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Woźniak
authors.affiliation: c Foundation for Sustainable Development , Wroclaw , Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jasnosz
authors.affiliation: a Department of Behavioral Ecology , Institute of Environmental Biology, University of Wroclaw , Wroclaw , Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kieliszczyk
authors.affiliation: a Department of Behavioral Ecology , Institute of Environmental Biology, University of Wroclaw , Wroclaw , Poland.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kozak
authors.affiliation: d Department of Wildlife Conservation , Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences , Krakow , Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sergiel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000523:psychology; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D005260:Female; D046069:Fur Seals / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D012919:Social Behavior; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior
keywords: Otariidae; activity budget; ethogram; husbandry training; welfare