title: Environmental Enrichment Effect on Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites and Captive Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) Behavior.
abstract: Environmental enrichment is a technique that may reduce the stress of nonhuman animals in captivity. Stress may interfere with normal behavioral expression and affect cognitive decision making. Noninvasive hormonal studies can provide important information about the stress statuses of animals. This study evaluated the effectiveness of different environmental enrichment treatments in the diminution of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (stress indicators) of three captive maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus). Correlations of the fecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels with expressed behaviors were also determined. Results showed that environmental enrichment reduced fecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels. Furthermore, interspecific and foraging enrichment items were most effective in reducing stress in two of the three wolves. No definite pattern was found between behavioral and physiological responses to stress. In conclusion, these behavioral and physiological data showed that maned wolves responded positively from an animal well being perspective to the enrichment items presented.
authors.affiliation: a Belo Horizonte Zoo , Belo Horizonte , Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlyle Mendes
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.affiliation: b Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto , Ouro Preto , Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiano Schetini
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: de Azevedo
authors.affiliation: c Veterinary School of the University of São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Alcino de Barros Vaz
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.affiliation: d School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford Manchester , Salford , United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Robert John
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000523:psychology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D046028:Canidae / Q000523:psychology*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005248:Feeding Methods; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids
keywords: Animal welfare; foraging enrichment; interspecific enrichment; intraspecific enrichment; zoo environment