A widespread problem in the housing of captive animals is the occurrence and development of abnormal behaviors. In the pig breeding industry the abnormal behaviors causing the biggest welfare problems are stereotypies such as tail-biting, ear-biting, equipment-biting and belly-nosing. In this study a rope and an activation ball were tested as curative treatments to reduce the performance of these stereotypies by inducing the underlying innate behaviors. A total of 141 pigs spread over 18 pens were used as test-subjects. They were divided into three groups which were introduced to one of the two enrichments or no enrichment at all. Both the enrichments contained characteristics which mostly targeted exploratory and foraging needs and, if functional, were thought to mainly have an effect on tail-biting, ear-biting and equipment-biting. The pigs were observed both at initial contact with the enrichments and after having familiarized with them for three days, and the amount of registered enrichment interaction and performed stereotypies were used to evaluate the effect of the enrichment objects. In both enrichment treatments the enrichments occupied the pigs both on day one and after three days. The presence of equipment-biting was successfully reduced on both day one and day three while the presence of tail-biting and ear-biting only were initially reduced. No effect was found on belly-nosing in either enrichment treatment. This suggests that both enrichments are functional over time and efficient in reducing some types of harmful social behaviors. However, belly-nosing would need to be targeted with a different kind of object.

A novel anatomical behavioral descriptive taxonomy improves motion capture in complex motor stereotypies (CMS) by indexing precise time data without degradation in the complexity of whole body movement in CMS. The absence of etiological explanation of complex motor stereotypies warrants the aggregation of a core CMS dataset to compare regulation of repetitive behaviors in the time domain. A set of visual formalisms trap configurations of behavioral markers (lateralized movements) for behavioral phenotype discovery as paired transitions (from, to) and asymmetries within repetitive restrictive behaviors. This translational project integrates NIH MeSH (medical subject headings) taxonomy with direct biological interface (wearable sensors and nanoscience in vitro assays) to design the architecture for exploratory diagnostic instruments. Motion capture technology when calibrated to multi-resolution indexing system (MeSH based) quantifies potential diagnostic criteria for comparing severity of CMS within behavioral plasticity and switching (sustained repetition or cyclic repetition) time-signatures. Diagnostic instruments sensitive to high behavioral resolution promote measurement to maximize behavioral activity while minimizing biological uncertainty. A novel protocol advances CMS research through instruments with recursive design.

Humans maintain wild animals in zoological parks for the purposes of education,conservation, research, and recreation. However, abnormal behaviors may develop in animals housed in human-made environments, if those environments do not allow them to carry out their natural behaviors (such as swimming, climbing, stalking, and predation). Captive environments in zoological parks often do not provide for natural behaviors due to spatial constraints and negative public reaction. Tigers (Panthera tigris) present a difficult case; they have large home ranges in the wild and natural predatory hunting behaviors that are difficult to provide for in captivity. As the numbers of wild tigers decline, captive breeding programs have become a major focus of the zoo community, which magnifies the importance of research on tiger husbandry. A body of research exists on small felids, but little, if any, has focused on tigers. This thesis presents an analysis of the effects of the captive environment on the behaviors of 18 captive Bengal and Siberian tigers in four zoological parks in Virginia and Pennsylvania. Certain animal characteristics (such as subspecies, and age) were also related to behavior. Several characteristics of the captive environment had statistically significant effects on stereotypic and exploratory behaviors of tigers: shade availability, the presence of a body of water, cage size, the presence of a conspecific, vegetation, environmental enrichment, and substrate type. There were significant differences in the behaviors of the two subspecies studied, but the reason for the differences are unclear. The results of this study showed clearly that tigers kept in more natural and complex enclosures performed less stereotypic pacing (unnatural behavior), and more exploratory (natural) behaviors than those housed in less natural enclosures. Reducing the stress level in captive tigers will enhance the animals' overall physical and psychological well being, which will in turn increase the success of captive breeding programs. These results suggest that captive tigers should be housed in large enclosures containing natural substrate and vegetation, water pools, ample shade, a variety of resting locations, and a variety of enrichment items. / Master of Science

Le premier objectif de ce travail de thèse était de développer la méthodologie d’étude des postures basée sur la morphométrie géométrique. Cela nécessitait un perfectionnement de la méthodologie déjà existante sur la ligne du dos du cheval afin d’obtenir une méthode précise, quantifiable, objective et reproductible, permettant de discriminer des populations. Pour cela, plusieurs améliorations méthodologiques (ajout de marqueurs pour dessiner le contour de laligne du dos du cheval, analyse de contour, annulation de la rotation de l’encolure) ont été testées sur un important jeu de données et finalement retenues. Cette méthodologie retenue a ensuite été utilisée afin de valider sa pertinence, et de rechercher des postures associées à des états de mal-être et à des conditions de travail différentes. Nos résultats ont tout d’abord mis en évidence l’existence d’une posture atypique, dans l’ensemble plate, voire creuse, associée à des marqueurs de mal-être parmi les chevaux de centre équestre. D’une part des chevaux issus de différentes disciplines équestres, et d’autre part des individus entrainés pour les courses de galop par plusieurs entraineurs, aux pratiques distinctes, ont permis d’observer un effet du type de travail sur la ligne du dessus notamment sur la forme de la croupe, del’encolure et du garrot. La méthodologie ainsi validée, il était possible de proposer un protocole de mesure de la posture par morphométrie géométrique chez l’humain, pour une application à l’étude de la communication non verbale, à la constitution d’un répertoire de postures « normales », ou encore pour le diagnostic de pathologies physiques (e.g. contextesportif) ou psychologiques. / The first goal of this thesis work was to develop the study methodology of the posture based on geometric morphometrics. This required an upgrading of the already existing methodology using the upper line of the horse in order to obtain a precise, quantifiable, unbiased and reproducible method which allows to discriminate populations. To achieve this, manymethodological improvements (addition of markers for the modelling of the contour of horse upper line, contour analyses, cancellation of the neck rotation) has been tested on a very large dataset and retained. Then this adopted methodology has been used to validate its relevance, and searching for postures associated with poor welfare and different working conditions. Our results has first brought to light the existence of an atypical posture, globally flat, even hollow, related to poor welfare indicators among the population of riding school horses. On one side horses from different equestrian disciplines, and on the other side individuals trained for horseracing by several trainers with distinct practices, has allowed to observe an impact of the type of work on the upper line, notably on the shape of the croup, neck and withers. This methodology thereby validated, it was possible to propose a protocol for the measure of the posture through geometric morphometrics on humans, for an application in the non-verbal communication research, the creation of a repertoire of « normal » postures, or for the diagnosis of psychological or physical pathologies (e.g. in the sport context).

Submitted by admin tede (tede@pucgoias.edu.br) on 2016-09-01T17:27:42Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Lívia Amorim Cardoso.pdf: 720992 bytes, checksum: 0e51ea816882b6bc911d479939da1dbd (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-01T17:27:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lívia Amorim Cardoso.pdf: 720992 bytes, checksum: 0e51ea816882b6bc911d479939da1dbd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-26 / The effect that was described by B. F. Skinner like superstitious behavior evidences the selection of behavior, without the need of a contingent relation between responses and environmental events. The objective of this study was assess the emission of behavior in a condition of fixed time condition (FT 20 sec) wherein the interval between the presentations of the reinforcement was independent of the response, following by the condition of the interval fixed (FI 30 sec) wherein the response was enhanced just after been elapsed the interval and, posteriorly, the condition of the extinction (EXT) wherein had suspension of the reinforcement. Each condition endured three minutes, been intercalary by two baselines (LB1 and LB2) between the conditions. The study was executed in an experimental room of a high school institution having a computer (with the program named Superstition), video camera, sheet of answer with the experimental question, table and chair. Six participants (three men and three women) were exposed to experiments. Each participant answered the experimental assignment individually, so that behavior stereotypies of the six participants were registered in their frequencies. According submitted in results, no participants discriminated the conditions present which were exposed and neither answered like the FT scheme. So, in this condition, all the participants answered any way producing varied stereotypies evidenced by this study. The extension of the superstitious behavior and the behavior governed by rule can contribute for the generality of the phenomenon like illusion of control, whose concept emerged at the experimental social psychology and, besides these, the basics concepts of the behavior analysis and media notions were submitted and discussed in important details. / O efeito que foi descrito por B. F. Skinner como comportamento supersticioso, evidencia a seleção do comportamento, sem a necessidade de uma relação contingente entre respostas e eventos ambientais. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a emissão de comportamentos em uma condição de esquema tempo fixo (FT, 20seg) em que o intervalo entre a apresentação do reforço era independente da resposta, seguido de uma condição de intervalo fixo (FI, 30seg) em que a resposta era reforçada apenas depois de ter transcorrido o intervalo e, posteriormente uma condição de extinção (EXT) em que havia suspensão do reforço. Cada condição durou três minutos, sendo intercaladas por duas linhas de base (LB1 e LB2) entre as condições. O estudo foi executado em uma sala experimental de uma instituição de ensino superior contendo computador (com o programa denominado superstição), câmera filmadora, folha de resposta com a questão experimental, mesa e cadeira. Seis participantes (três homens e três mulheres) foram expostos ao experimento. Cada participante respondeu a tarefa experimental individualmente, de modo que as estereotipias comportamentais dos seis participantes foram registradas em suas frequências. Conforme demonstrado nos resultados, nenhum participante discriminou as condições vigentes às quais foram expostos e nem responderam conforme o esquema de FT. Ou seja, nesta condição, todos os participantes responderam de alguma forma, produzindo estereotipias variadas evidenciadas pelo estudo. A extensão estudo comportamento supersticioso e do comportamento governado por regras pode contribuir para a generalidade de fenômenos como de ilusão de controle, cujo conceito surgiu na psicologia social experimental e, além destes, os conceitos básicos da análise do comportamento e noções mídias foram apresentados e discutidos em importantes detalhes.

This thesis is an investigation of dietary alterations, including the addition of fibre and an appetite suppressant (alternative diet) and the use of a skip-a-day (SAD) feeding regime, which may reduce hunger. Broiler breeders are severely feed restricted to limit growth, leading to symptoms of chronic hunger. We used behavioural indices, feather condition scoring and preference tests were used to compare satiating properties of the diets. Alternative diets reduced symptoms of hunger such as feather, object and aggressive pecking and resulted in better feather condition. Although SAD birds feather pecked more during feeding bouts, SAD birds still had better feather condition than daily birds. Preference testing revealed no differences in dietary preference, implying a lack of preference, or a methodological flaw. However, no aversion to the alternative diet was evident. Alternative diets, regardless of feeding frequency, may be the best option for bettering the welfare of growing broiler breeders. / Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, OMAFRA, Canadian Poultry Research Council

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:54:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 326287 bytes, checksum: ced8f806a9f781354126d0e8f2a17650 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-12-04 / Aiming at itself to evaluate the behavior and the welfare of pigs, in function of the grouping for sex and type of maternity had been used 180 pigs weaned to the 28 days distributed in an experiment with delineation entirely casualizado in factorial project 3x3 (three groupings for sex: males, females and compound with three types of maternity origin: conventional maternity, maternity with floor with cooling for matrices and maternity with access the poles), five repetitions of four animals for experimental unit. The comments had been carried through in the day wean of it and in days 2 and 3 it weans after it. The analyses of the images had been carried through by an only person. Significant differences (P≥ 0,05) for the isolated factors had not been observed and nor effect of the interaction enter the factors how much to the performance of the pigs. Significant effect (P≥0,05) of the interaction of the type of maternity with sex how much to the number of times had been observed where the animal used the water through, where the animal mounted the friend of bay and where the animal practised biting. For the behaviors, playful permanence in cocho, behaviors and agonísticos behaviors had verified effect of the factors of isolated form (P≥0,05). It was verified that the effect of the factor type of maternity and the interaction of the factors had been significant (P≥0,05) how much to the time where the pigs had remained lying. One concludes that the grouping for sex enriches the welfare conditions of the pigs, weaned to the 28 days, in the day-care center; that the grouping exclusively of males harms the behavior of pigs weaned to the 28 days of age and that the maternity with access the pole improves the behavior of the pigs in the day-care center weans after it to the 28 days of age, presenting resulted better of welfare that of the maternity with cooling for the nuts. / Visando-se avaliar o comportamento e o bem estar de leitões, em função do agrupamento por sexo e tipo de maternidade foram usados 180 leitões desmamados aos 28 dias distribuídos em um experimento com delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 3x3 (três agrupamentos por sexo: machos, fêmeas e misto com três tipos de origem de maternidade: maternidade convencional, maternidade com piso com resfriamento para matrizes e maternidade com acesso a piquetes), com cinco repetições de quatro animais por unidade experimental. As observações foram realizadas no dia do desmame e nos dias 2 e 3 após o desmame. As análises das imagens foram realizadas por uma única pessoa. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas (P≥0,05) para os fatores isolados e nem efeitos da interação entre os fatores quanto ao desempenho dos leitões. Foram observados efeitos significativos (P≥0,05) da interação do tipo de maternidade com sexo quanto ao número de vezes em que o animal utilizou o bebedouro, em que o animal montou o companheiro de baia e em que o animal praticou biting. Para os comportamentos, permanência no cocho, comportamentos lúdicos e comportamentos agonísticos verificaram-se efeitos dos fatores de forma isolada (P≥0,05). Verificou-se que os efeitos do fator tipo de maternidade e a interação dos fatores foram significativos (P≥0,05) quanto ao tempo em que os leitões permaneceram deitados. Conclui-se que o agrupamento por sexo enriquece as condições de bem estar dos leitões, desmamados aos 28 dias, na creche; que o agrupamento exclusivamente de machos prejudica o comportamento de leitões desmamados aos 28 dias de idade e que a maternidade com acesso a piquete melhora o comportamento dos leitões na creche após o desmame aos 28 dias de idade, apresentando resultados melhores de bem estar que os da maternidade com resfriamento para as porcas.

Im Zuge systematisch durchgeführter thermografischer Untersuchungen an 95 Asiatischen Elefanten in europäischen Zoos konnten physiologische Wärmeprofile aller nicht von Fußkrankheiten betroffener Elefanten erstellt werden. Um eine objektivere Befundung zu ermöglichen, wurden dafür definierte Messbereiche an den Füßen festgelegt und deren Temperaturdaten als Wärmekurven für jeden Zeh dargestellt. Es zeigte sich, dass die Bandbreite von Temperaturen gleicher Messbereiche starken individuellen Schwankungen unterliegt, weshalb eine Befundung nicht anhand absoluter Temperaturwerte erfolgen sollte. So wurden über gleichen Messbereichen unterschiedlicher Elefanten Temperaturunterschiede von bis zu 8 °C festgestellt. Auch die Umgebungsfaktoren während der Untersuchung tragen zu dieser Varianz bei. Bei Umgebungstemperaturen zwischen 17,5 °C und 23 °C stellt sich durch Erhöhung der Außentemperatur um 1 °C eine um 0,5 °C erhöhte Wärmeabstrahlung über der Haut dar. Eine Erhöhung der Luftfeuchte um 1 % verursacht eine um 0,03 °C vermehrte Wärmeabstrahlung. Die Wärmeprofile stellten sich für die Kronsaum- und Hufwandbereiche der Zehen eines Fußes von medial nach lateral in einem parabelförmigen Verlauf dar, wobei die höchsten Temperaturen an den kranialen Zehen gemessen wurden. Die Differenz zwischen Kronsaum- und Hufwandbereichen blieb dabei konstant. Die Temperaturen der Zehenregion oberhalb des Kronsaums folgten nicht dieser Parabelform, lagen aber, außer an der jeweils medialen Seite, konstant unterhalb der Kronsaumtemperaturen. Bei Vergleich mit thermografischen Befunden erkrankter Zehen zeigte sich meist ein starker Anstieg der Zehenregiontemperatur weit über die Kronsaumtemperaturen hinaus, weshalb sich dieses Verhältnis als Indiz für ein akutes Enzündungsgeschehen nutzen lässt. Ein gleichmäßiges Wärmeprofil, welches möglichst dicht dem in dieser Arbeit entwickelten Profil gleicht und konstante Temperaturdifferenzen zwischen den einzelnen Messbereichen aufweist, ist ein gutes Indiz für einen gesunden Fuß. Thermografische Befundungen sollten immer mit Hilfe herkömmlicher visueller Auswertung und zusätzlich der Erstellung eines Wärmeprofils vorgenommen werden, um die Subjektivität zu minimieren. Erstmalig wurden in dieser Arbeit drei Elefanten mittels Pedografie untersucht, um Aufschlüsse über die Druckverteilung unter dem Elefantenfuß zu erhalten. Wie bei Menschen und pedografisch vermessenen Rindern fanden sich auch beim Elefanten charakteristische Druckprofile. Druckspitzenwerte tauchten hierbei vor allem im kranialen Bereich der Füße als Druckleiste, aber auch im kaudalen Bereich in Form zweier Druckpfeiler auf. Experimente mit einer Methode zur Simulierung weicheren Untergrundes schienen die Druckspitzenwerte etwas abzuschwächen und das allgemeine Druckprofil einzuebnen, waren aber nur schwer auszuwerten. Die Methode eignet sich ebenso zur Erfassung der tatsächlich belasteten Fläche der Füße, welche sich bei stärkerer Belastung, beispielsweise dreibeinigem Stehen, vergrößerte. Trotz noch einiger methodischer und technischer Probleme, eröffnet sich mit der Pedografie ein sicherlich lohnenswertes Forschungsfeld für weitere Studien, die einen besseren Einblick in die Druckphysiologie des Elefantenfußes gewähren könnten. Weiterhin wurden in dieser Arbeit Daten der Elefantenhaltungssysteme von 17 besuchten europäischen Zoos, sowie Daten über Häufigkeit und Art der Gliedmaßenkrankheiten und anderer gesundheitlicher Parameter aller 95 untersuchter Elefanten ausgewertet. Hierbei zeigte sich immer noch starker Verbesserungsbedarf im Hinblick auf Innengehegegrößen und die verwendeten Bodenmaterialien. Auch Bewegungsprogramme für den Aufenthalt im Außengehege wurden nur in weniger als der Hälfte der Zoos eingesetzt. Positiv fiel auf, dass die Elefanten in den besuchten Zoos kaum noch angekettet werden und falls doch, nur kurzzeitig zu Untersuchungszwecken. Den Daten der Haltungsanalysen entsprechend, fielen die Auswertungen zur Fußgesundheit aus: Nur 36 % der untersuchten Elefanten litten bisher noch niemals unter Fußerkrankungen. Allein zum Zeitpunkt der Untersuchung wurden bei 27 % der Tiere akute Erkrankungen festgestellt, die unter Behandlung standen. Hierbei handelte es sich hauptsächlich um Abszesse oder andere entzündliche Veränderungen im Bereich des Nagelbetts. Weiterhin wurden 30 % der Elefanten als übergewichtig eingeschätzt und 36 % der Tiere zeigten stereotype Bewegungsmuster. / A total of 95 Asiatic Elephants in 17 European zoos were systematically examined using a high resolution thermographic camera and physiologic heat profiles of elephant’s feet without known foot diseases were established. To allow a more objective evaluation of thermographic findings, the feet and toes were divided schematically into defined areas for measurement purposes, based on anatomical features for which the temperature data was then plotted to produce heat curves for each area. Measurements of temperatures pertaining to similar areas of different elephants showed strong individual fluctuation. Temperature variation was as high as 8 °C in similar areas between elephants. Thus, evaluation of thermographic findings should never be based on absolute temperature readings alone. This strong variation is partly caused by environmental factors during the examination. With environmental temperatures between 17,5 °C and 23 °C, a one degree increase of this temperature will cause a 0,5 °C increase of the heat radiation of the feet. An increase of air humidity by 1 % will cause an increase of 0,03 °C of the measured thermographical heat radiation. The physiological heat profiles for coronary and hoof wall areas of the toes showed an arched, parable-like shape when plotted from the medial over the cranial to the lateral toes. The highest temperature readings were found on the cranial toes. The difference between coronary and hoof wall temperatures of similar toes were constant all over the foot. The physiological heat profiles of the toe areas above the coronary region did not show this arched shape but stayed below the coronary temperature readings except on the medial toe. On comparison with thermographic findings of inflammated toes, a strong increase of this area above the coronary band was found which exceeded the temperature of the coronary region. This characteristic can be used as an indicator for acute inflammations. A regular heat profile, which resembles closely the physiological heat profile created in this study and which shows constant temperature differences between the defined areas of the single toes, is a good indicator of healthy foot. It is recommended that thermographic examinations always are evaluated using conventional observation of the heat patterns in conjunction with the additional creation of a heat profile to minimize subjectivity by the clinician. For the first time three elephants were examined in this study using a new pedographic method to gain information on the pressure distribution below the elephant’s foot. As found in humans as well as in pedographically examined cows, the pressure distribution in elephant’s feet showed a characteristic profile. Pressure peaks showed up especially in the cranial area of the foot, possibly the border between sole and pad, as well as in the caudal region in the shape of two pressure pillars. Experiments with a method to simulate softer ground seemed to lower the pressure peaks slightly in favor of a broader distribution, but were very difficult to evaluate, especially considering the small sample size. This method is also suited to register the actual area size put under pressure by the elephant, which was shown to rise under increased pressure, e. g. three legged standing. Despite some encountered methodical and technical problems, pedography of elephants is going to be a very promising field for further scientific studies in order to acquire more information on the physiology of pressure distribution. Data on husbandry conditions of the 17 visited zoos and as well as data on frequency and type of foot diseases and other health parameters of all 95 examined elephants were also collected and evaluated. A strong need for improvement was observed in terms of enclosure sizes and the surface materials used in indoor enclosures. Also, daily routines to increase activity of the elephants in the outdoor enclosures were found to be carried out only in half of the visited zoos. On a positive note, elephants in the evaluated zoos were hardly ever chained and if so, only for examination purposes. According to the data of the husbandry evaluation the information on the current status of foot health showed the need for improvement: Only in 36 % of the examined elephants foot problems were so far not encountered. On the time of examination 27 % of the animals were found to be under ongoing treatment for foot diseases. Mostly these were abscesses or other inflammation processes in the area of the nail’s laminar tissue. Out of the study sample, 30 % of the elephants were estimated to be overweight and 36 % showed stereotypic movement patterns.

Orientadora: Profa. Dra. Cibele Biondo / Coorientadora: Profa. Dra. Angélica da Silva Vasconcellos / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Evolução e Diversidade, São Bernardo do Campo, 2018. / Os zoológicos atuais se tornaram instrumentos para a conservação ex situ e tem havido uma preocupação com o bem-estar dos animais cativos e com o impacto da visitação no comportamento animal. Neste estudo, foi verificada a influência da quantidade de público e dos níveis de ruído no comportamento de cachorros-do-mato (Cerdocyon thous) alojados em zoológicos do Estado de São Paulo. Para a identificação e descrição dos comportamentos a serem estudados, foi realizado um estudo piloto com seis indivíduos alojados na Fundação Parque Zoológico de São Paulo. A coleta de dados propriamente dita foi realizada com seis indivíduos de quatro zoológicos do interior do Estado (Piracicaba, Boituva, Americana e Sorocaba). Foram medidas as frequências e durações dos comportamentos, número de visitantes presentes e nível de ruído em dias sem visitação (segundas-feiras) e com quantidade média (sábados) e alta de visitantes (domingo). As durações dos comportamentos também foram medidas nas noites seguintes a exposição à visitação e ruído. Esperava-se encontrar maiores taxas e duração de comportamentos estereotipados, de vigilância e de agressividade, além de maiores períodos fora da visão dos visitantes e menos tempo em repouso, em momentos com maior número de visitantes e com alto nível de ruído. Foram encontradas máximas de ruídos maiores que o recomendado para os seres humanos em três zoológicos. O ruído foi relacionado à presença e o número de visitantes. Conforme esperado, o maior nível de ruído influenciou a diminuição do repouso e o aumento de atividades, incluindo vigilância, durante o dia e o maior repouso durante a noite, e aumentou o comportamento fora de visão em ambos os períodos. Não se pode afirmar com certeza que a visitação ou o nível de ruído influenciaram os comportamentos estereotipados ou agressivos, pois os mesmos foram raros. De todo modo, as correlações entre o número de visitantes e os níveis de ruído para diversos comportamentos analisados demonstram que essas variáveis afetaram o comportamento de C. thous nos zoológicos estudados. Estudos com animais cativos de C. thous ainda são escassos e espera-se, com esse trabalho, suprir de certa forma esta lacuna, com vistas à conservação ex situ da espécie. / As zoos became instruments for ex situ conservation, there is a preoccupation about captive animal welfare and about the impact of visitors on the behavior of zoo-housed animals. In this study, we addressed the influence of noise and quantity of visitors on the behavior of crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous) from São Paulo State zoos. For the identification and description of the behaviors that would be studied, we conducted a pilot study with six individuals housed at the São Paulo Zoo. For the main study, we collected data on six individuals from four zoos in the State countryside (Piracicaba, Boituva, Americana and Sorocaba).We recorded the frequency and duration of the target behaviors, the number of visitors and the levels of noise in days without visitation (Mondays), and in days with medium (Saturdays) and high number of visitors (Sundays). We also recorded the duration of the behaviors observed at the nights following these days. We expected to find higher rates of aggressive and stereotyped behaviors, lower rates of resting and rates out of view in days of higher quantity of visitors and higher noise. We found rates of noise higher than WHO recommended, which was associated to the presence and number of visitors. As expected, with higher levels of noise, we observed a decrease of resting and an increase of activities during the day, an increase of resting in the following nights, and an increase in the time out of view in both periods (day and night). We cannot be sure that visitation or noise levels influenced the stereotyped or aggressive behaviors, because they were rare. Anyway, the correlations between the number of visitors and noise levels and the behaviors analyzed demonstrated that these variables affected the behavior of C. thous in the zoos studied. Studies with zoo-housed crab-eating fox are scarce and we expect with this work to contribute to the species¿ knowledge and welfare, in order to help its ex situ conservation.

Horses are herbivores and can graze for up to 20 hours per day. It is well known that animals are motivated to perform natural behaviours and horses have, except from a physiological need to graze, a strong motivation to perform their natural feeding behaviour. This review aimed to give insight into how horses are kept, how the way they are kept affects their behaviour and welfare, if there are reasons why some horses cannot be kept on pasture, and if alternative feeding strategies can improve horse welfare by allowing horsesto perform their natural feeding behaviour. Most horses are kept in stables and are put on feeding regimes that do not resemble their natural feeding behaviour. This can lead to development of stereotypies, and when prevented from carrying out their feeding behaviour, oral stereotypies such as crib-biting can result. Horses kept free range display very few, if any, stereotypies and is therefore the best way to keep horses from a welfare approach. However, obesity and grass-related illnesses can restrict horses from being kept on pasture, thus, alternative feeding methods for stabled horses is imperative. Use of edible bedding, presenting several types of forage, providing ad libitumforage, or using slow feeders are alternative methods that could be implemented by horseowners and caretakers to improve horse welfare. Horses can however respond differently to these methods and a method that suits one horse might not be appropriate for another.