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Feeding enrichment and stereotypic behavior in spectacled bears
Author(s) -
Fischbacher Mark,
Schmid Hans
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
zoo biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.5
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1098-2361
pISSN - 0733-3188
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2361(1999)18:5<363::aid-zoo1>3.0.co;2-h
Subject(s) - biology , foraging , morning , feeding behavior , environmental enrichment , zoology , ecology , endocrinology , botany
The effect of feeding enrichment on the behavior of three spectacled bears ( Tremarctos ornatus ) was investigated in a large, complex zoo exhibit. Feeding enrichment significantly extended the time bears spent foraging, but no delayed effect on other behaviors was found. The frequency of stereotypic behaviors performed by an old female and a young adult male was not influenced outside the morning feeding period. As yet, a young adult female has not developed stereotypic behaviors. In the old female, the frequency of stereotypic behavior was inversely correlated with the frequency of resting. In the male, the frequency of stereotypic behavior was inversely correlated with the frequency of social interactions with either female. Zoo Biol 18:363–371, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.