麋鹿幼仔的活动同步性与同性聚群倾向

哺乳动物幼体从出生到性成熟这段时间存在生理和行为上的巨大变化.麋鹿幼仔出生1周内,与成鹿和其它仔鹿呈隔离状态,且藏卧于隐蔽处,母鹿哺乳是引起幼仔活动的主要因素.     

圈养大熊猫同时哺育双胞胎行为观察

2003 年,圈养大熊猫“梅梅”首例哺育成活一胎二仔,通过对其近半年的育幼行为观察,结果发现:1) 母兽主要以同时衔2 仔、同时衔和抱2 仔二种方式将幼仔抱入怀中哺育;60 d 内, 育幼姿势以坐位为主,倦卧其次, 其它姿势更少, 其中坐位随日龄增加逐渐减少, 倦卧变化不大。2) 母兽活动时间在产仔当天最多, 之后显著下降并维持在35.2 ± 0.6% 的低水平, 47 d 后再缓慢上升到108 d 后的54.8 ± 0.9% 。3) 双胞胎幼仔间哺乳的日均次数和时间无显著差异。4) 7 d 内2 幼仔“仔在母身上” 的时间占100%, 21 ～ 23 d 后显著减少, 而“母体盖仔”、“仔在母身边”和“母仔自然分离”的时间显著增加, 但“母体盖仔” 的时间在32 d 左右后又显著减少;双胞胎分别在与母兽的此四种位置变化的时间上无显著差异。5) 母兽的活动、幼仔哺乳日均次数、“母仔自然分离”在全天的日均时间分布有峰、谷变化。6) 随幼仔活动能力的逐渐增强,幼仔离“育幼窝”的距离也逐渐增加,双胞胎幼仔离“育幼窝”的远近也有差别。7)母兽分别与其雄性双胞胎幼仔玩耍的时间有显著差异,而两幼仔自玩的时间无差异,此两双胞胎自玩和一起玩耍所用时间远大于分别与母兽玩耍的时间。该研究丰富了大熊猫育幼行为内容,并为以后的大熊猫双胞胎育幼提供了可供参考的行为资料。     

同胞侵犯对猞猁幼仔行为的影响

研究了非自由生活的4窝11只猞猁幼仔的玩耍行为、亲和及入侵关系的变化.观察到36-57日龄幼仔的同胞打斗行为,这些打斗减少了这些幼仔之间游戏性接触的频次.这个"打斗期"与游戏行为和食性的变化同步发生.打斗后,幼仔游戏性接触的非对称性以及同胞之间的偏爱更加清楚.这些打斗导致了不同窝的幼仔之间等级结构的建立.     

影响北京南海子半散放麋鹿新生幼仔存活原因探讨

1999～2006年北京南海子麋鹿苑出生麋鹿幼仔224只,新生麋鹿幼仔存活率81.70%,死亡率18.30%.41只麋鹿幼仔死亡的主要原因为死胎、弱胎和弃子等.分析仔鹿初生体重与仔鹿死亡关系发现,存活仔鹿与死亡仔鹿的初生体重具有极显著性差异,体重大的幼仔更容易存活,事实上初生体重小于6.00 kg时仔鹿基本不能存活.北...     

野化培训大熊猫幼仔第一阶段的活动变化研究

2011年8月—2014年8月,利用红外视频监控系统结合现场观察,在中国保护大熊猫研究中心卧龙核桃坪野化基地对野化培训第一阶段的7只大熊猫Ailuropoda melanoleuca幼仔的活动变化进行研究,采用瞬时扫描取样法收集了母幼距离、幼仔活动空间位置和行为等数据。研究结果发现:(1)母幼距离随着幼仔月龄的增长而增加,到幼仔爬树时母幼距离达到最高点,11~12月龄后出现下降的趋势。(2)野化幼仔随着月龄增长在母兽怀中的时间呈递减趋势;幼仔在地面的时间表现为未能独立活动时递增,5~9月龄时递减,其后14~15月龄时递增的变化规律;幼仔在树上的时间呈现5~10月龄时递增,接着稳定在一个较高的值,到14月龄时递减的波动;幼仔在母兽怀中(n=2,P0.05)和在地面的时间(n=5,P0.01)均与其在树上的时间呈负相关。(3)在活动时间分配上,幼仔平均用于休息的时间为所有行为时间的90.1%±4.1%,平均用于活动的时间为9.3%±3.9%,平均用于觅食的时间为0.6%±0.4%。     

圈养马麝幼仔哺乳期时间分配及影响因素

本研究于2017年7月17日至8月16日,在甘肃兴隆山马麝繁育场对圈养马麝(Moschus chrysogaster sifanicus)当年生仔麝进行哺乳期的行为取样,量化记录了摄食、卧息、刻板等10类行为,分析了仔麝哺乳期时间分配格局及与性别和年龄等因素的关系。结果表明,圈养马麝仔麝在哺乳期(1~3月龄)的卧息(39. 55%±4. 53%)及摄食(28. 03%±1. 58%)时间分配最多;仔麝在哺乳前期(1月龄)、中期(2月龄)及后期(3月龄)的卧息、摄食及刻板行为的展现时间逐渐增加,运动行为在中期达到峰值(4. 99%±0. 64%),母幼联系等其他行为逐渐下降;仔麝的刻板行为在哺乳中期开始发育,后期刻板行为(3. 33%±1. 83%)显著高于中期(1. 15%±0. 77%)(P <0. 05);仔麝摄食与排泄行为的分配时间呈正相关(r=0. 833,P=0. 010),母幼联系与社会行为呈正相关(r=0. 802,P=0. 017),环境探究与社会行为呈显著正相关(r=0. 970,P <0. 001);圈舍内有成年雄麝的仔麝的卧息时间(59. 50%±8. 17%)显著高于圈舍内缺失雄麝的仔麝(37. 82%±6. 12%)(P <0. 05),前者的母幼联系(1. 10%±0. 52%)也相对低于后者(3. 80%±1. 07%)(P>0. 05);仔麝性别对其行为时间分配的影响均不显著(P> 0. 05)。本研究表明,马麝的母幼关系属于典型"隐蔽者"类型,仔麝刻板行为的发育始于哺乳中期,其发育和表达强度随年龄递增而加强,同圈舍的成年雄麝对仔麝的行为和生长发育有负面效应。     

麇鹿幼仔的活动同步性与同性聚群倾向

哺乳动物幼体从出生到性成熟这段时间存在生理和行为上的巨大变化。麋鹿幼仔出生1周内,与成鹿和其它仔鹿呈隔离状态,且藏卧于隐蔽处,母鹿哺乳是引起幼仔活动的主要因素。本文旨在探讨麋鹿雌雄幼仔之间的聚群倾向和活动同步性指数。现报道如下。1　材料与方法1 1　研究地点和对象本研究在北京麋鹿苑内进行。麋鹿苑面积60hm2,1999年有麋鹿近160头。植被优势种类为蟋蟀草(Eleusineindica),画眉草(Eragrostiscilia nensis),马塘(Digitariasangunalis)和狗尾草(Se tariaviridis)等。年均气温13 1℃,1月平均气温-3 4℃,7月平均气温26 4℃。年…     

大熊猫母性行为培训

圈养大熊猫初产母兽弃仔和抚育行为不当是导致幼仔死亡的主要原因之一。针对这种情况,从1998－2000年,分别采用幼仔模型、尿液、叫声录音、实体和乳汁等多种刺激信号,对1只弃仔的雌性大熊猫（谱系号：446）母性行为培训的结果表明,首先采用幼仔模型、尿液、叫声录音和乳汁等多种信号的刺激,有助于弃仔的初产母兽再接受其幼仔。进一步对母兽抚育行为的培训,其母性行为逐年增强,并最终掌握各项育幼技能,使幼仔存活率得到显著提高。     

大熊猫母性行为培驯

圈养大熊猫初产母兽弃仔和抚育行为不当是导致幼仔死亡的主要原因之一。针对这种情况 ,从 1 998～ 2 0 0 0年 ,分别采用幼仔模型、尿液、叫声录音、实体和乳汁等多种刺激信号 ,对 1只弃仔的雌性大熊猫 (谱系号 :446)母性行为培训的结果表明 ,首先采用幼仔模型、尿液、叫声录音和乳汁等多种信号的刺激 ,有助于弃仔的初产母兽再接受其幼仔。进一步对母兽抚育行为的培训 ,其母性行为逐年增强 ,并最终掌握各项育幼技能 ,使幼仔存活率得到显著提高。     

亲缘关系与布氏田鼠双亲行为和杀婴行为关系的初探

根据幼仔发育的 5个阶段 :新生 (1～ 5日龄 )、耳立 (6～ 9日龄 )、睁眼 (10～14日龄 )、出巢 (15～ 2 0日龄 )和断奶 (2 1～2 4日龄 ) ,通过观察布氏田鼠对自己幼仔 (r=0 5 0 )和非亲缘幼仔 (r <0 12 5 )的行为反应 ,研究亲缘关系对布氏田鼠双亲和杀婴行为的影响。结果表明 :1)新生阶段 ,雄鼠抚育亲仔的时间显著多于非亲缘幼仔 ;断奶阶段 ,雄鼠与亲仔相触及在巢内活动的时间也显著多于非亲缘幼仔 ;雄鼠在耳立、出巢和断奶阶段嗅闻非亲缘幼仔 ,以及在新生和睁眼阶段修饰非亲缘幼仔的时间都显著多于亲仔。 2 )断奶阶段 ,雌鼠与亲仔相触的时间显著多于非亲缘幼仔 ,但在睁眼阶段修饰非亲缘幼仔 ,以及在新生、耳立和出巢阶段嗅闻非亲缘幼仔的时间显著多于亲仔。 3)雌雄鼠在15日龄前没有杀婴行为 ,15日龄后 ,开始对非亲缘幼仔发生杀婴行为 ;雌鼠杀婴行为受幼仔发育的显著影响 ,且杀婴频次显著高于雄鼠 ;雌鼠在断奶阶段对非亲缘幼仔的杀婴频次显著高于亲仔。综上所述 ,亲缘关系对布氏田鼠的双亲和杀婴行为有显著影响 ,这可能与个体间的已往经历 (熟悉性等 )或表现性匹配等辨别机制有关。     

Behavioral development in okapis and giraffes

Observations on the behavioral development of two okapi calves and one giraffe calf were made at Brookfield Zoo. The following behaviors were monitored for 4 to 6 mo after birth; nursing duration and nursing attempts, mother-infant distance, bunting the mother's udder, lying, moving, maternal grooming, mother and infant autogrooming, object licking, tail chewing, and contact by others in the herd. Behaviors in both species showed oscillating patterns with high levels of mother-infant contact behaviors at 3–4 wk, 9–11 wk, and 14–15 wk in okapis. Giraffe infants showed similar oscillations with high periods of contact about 2–5 wk later than those in okapis. Other behaviors oscillated in concert with these, with specific correlations occurring between nursing behaviors and grooming behaviors. A main difference between okapi and giraffe development centered around maternal motivation during the high contact (regressive) periods. In okapis, after 10–12 wk there was a low rate of nursing success, whereas in giraffes the percentage of success in nursing rose with later behavioral oscillations. The regressive periods became conflict periods in okapis, whereas in the giraffe, the mother initiated the periods. This difference was in accordance with the unique strategy of infant rearing in wild giraffes in which there is an extended “hider” period when older calves are left together in shaded areas with an adult sentry. Field studies also indicated probable oscillations of mother-infant contact and a prolonged period of the mother initiating contact with her calf.     

Comparative use of four different marker systems for the estimation of digestibility and low food intake in a group of captive giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis)

In a feeding trial with four captive giraffes, nutrient digestibility was determined using four different marker systems. Although cobalt‐ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid proved to have no utility as a digestibility marker in this study, reasonable values could be obtained using C₃₆ n‐alkane, acid detergent lignin, and acid insoluble ash as markers. A comparison of methods and literature data suggests that the values derived from the C₃₆ n‐alkane assay are the most reliable absolute values. Apparent digestibility ranges thus determined were 63.5–74.3% for dry matter, 73.4–82.4% for crude protein, 49.9–62.2% for neutral detergent fiber, and 49.7–63.7% for acid detergent fiber. However, digestibility data gained by the ADL method provided the most stringent inter‐individual comparisons. It is concluded that both alkanes and lignin can be used for giraffe digestibility studies. These captive giraffes ingested a smaller quantity of food than has been reported for other giraffes from both the wild and other zoos. Energetic calculations showed that these animals might be on the brink of an energy deficit. A similar situation has been described at least once before in captive giraffes, and the results are of direct relevance to the peracute mortality syndrome, a condition of captive giraffes in which severe depletion of body fat stores occurs. Reasons for the seemingly low food intake could not be elucidated, but observations suggested that these giraffes were ready to ingest more if more palatable or suitable food was offered. Monitoring food intake in other giraffe groups and designing a diet that is both palatable and nutritious are important objectives of captive giraffe management. Zoo Biol 20:315–329, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

半散放东北虎产仔行为的初步观察

1999年4月至2003年6月,采用随机取样法、扫描取样法和目标取样法对黑龙江东北虎林园半散放条件12只成年雌性东北虎的产仔行为进行观察。结果表明,半散放雌性东北虎的产仔行为可分为9种:站立、行走、躺卧、嗅闻、努责、梳理、生产、亲仔和舔食。雌性东北虎的躺卧和亲仔行为时间最长,分别为42.9% 和34.5% ;躺卧、努责和亲仔行为发生频率较高,分别为21.1%、16. 9% 和24.6%。单因素方差分析表明,不同雌性东北虎个体间躺卧、亲仔等行为有显著差异;不同年份雌性成年东北虎的站立、躺卧、梳理等产仔行为也具有显著差异。相关分析显示,躺卧行为与亲子行为(r_s= 0.602, P<0.05)、梳理行为(r_s=0.589,P<0.05)均呈负相关。     

Predicting the buoyancy, equilibrium and potential swimming ability of giraffes by computational analysis

Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) are often stated to be unable to swim, and while few observations supporting this have ever been offered, we sought to test the hypothesis that giraffes exhibited a body shape or density unsuited for locomotion in water. We assessed the floating capability of giraffes by simulating their buoyancy with a three-dimensional mathematical/computational model. A similar model of a horse (Equus caballus) was used as a control, and its floating behaviour replicates the observed orientations of immersed horses. The floating giraffe model has its neck sub-horizontal, and the animal would struggle to keep its head clear of the water surface. Using an isometrically scaled-down giraffe model with a total mass equal to that of the horse, the giraffe's proportionally larger limbs have much higher rotational inertias than do those of horses, and their wetted surface areas are 13.5% greater relative to that of the horse, thus making rapid swimming motions more strenuous. The mean density of the giraffe model (960 gm/l) is also higher than that of the horse (930 gm/l), and closer to that causing negative buoyancy (1000 gm/l). A swimming giraffe - forced into a posture where the neck is sub-horizontal and with a thorax that is pulled downwards by the large fore limbs - would not be able to move the neck and limbs synchronously as giraffes do when moving on land, possibly further hampering the animal's ability to move its limbs effectively underwater. We found that a full-sized, adult giraffe will become buoyant in water deeper than 2.8 m. While it is not impossible for giraffes to swim, we speculate that they would perform poorly compared to other mammals and are hence likely to avoid swimming if possible.     

Winning by a neck: tall giraffes avoid competing with shorter browsers

With their vertically elongated body form, giraffes generally feed above the level of other browsers within the savanna browsing guild, despite having access to foliage at lower levels. They ingest more leaf mass per bite when foraging high in the tree, perhaps because smaller, more selective browsers deplete shoots at lower levels or because trees differentially allocate resources to promote shoot growth in the upper canopy. We erected exclosures around individual Acacia nigrescens trees in the greater Kruger ecosystem, South Africa. After a complete growing season, we found no differences in leaf biomass per shoot across height zones in excluded trees but significant differences in control trees. We conclude that giraffes preferentially browse at high levels in the canopy to avoid competition with smaller browsers. Our findings are analogous with those from studies of grazing guilds and demonstrate that resource partitioning can be driven by competition when smaller foragers displace larger foragers from shared resources. This provides the first experimental support for the classic evolutionary hypothesis that vertical elongation of the giraffe body is an outcome of competition within the browsing ungulate guild.     

Mitochondrial DNA variability in Giraffa camelopardalis: consequences for taxonomy, phylogeography and conservation of giraffes in West and central Africa

The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) still survives in four countries of West and central Africa. The populations of Niger and Cameroon are generally assigned to the subspecies peralta, but those of Chad and the Central African Republic are taxonomically problematic, as they are referred to as either peralta, or antiquorum, or congoensis. In this study, a mitochondrial fragment of 1765 nucleotide sites, covering the complete cytochrome b gene, three transfer RNAs and a large part of the control region, was sequenced to assess the relationships between several populations of giraffe. The phylogenetic analyses performed on the 12 identified haplotypes indicate that northern giraffes constitute a natural group, distinct from that of southern giraffes. Surprisingly, the giraffes of Niger are found to be more closely related to the giraffes of East Africa (subspecies rothschildi and reticulata) than to those of central Africa. We conclude therefore that the subspecies peralta contains only the Niger giraffes, whereas the subspecies antiquorum includes all populations living in Cameroon, Chad, the Central African Republic, and southwestern Sudan. We suggest that the ancestor of the Nigerian giraffe dispersed from East to North Africa during the Quaternary period and thereafter migrated to its current Sahelian distribution in West Africa, in response to the development of the Sahara desert. This hypothesis implies that Lake Mega-Chad acted as a strong geographical barrier during the Holocene, preventing any contact between the subspecies peralta and antiquorum. Our study has direct implications for conservation management, as we show that no subspecies peralta is represented in any European zoos, only in Niger, with a small population of less than 200 individuals.     

Giraffe translocations: A review and discussion of considerations

Giraffe populations have declined dramatically in the last three decades. Giraffe translocations are likely to increase as wildlife managers seek to augment or re-establish populations. Currently, formal practical guidance for giraffe translocations is limited. Here, we present a review of translocation guidelines emphasising planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and we review giraffe behaviour and ecology to provide recommendations specific to the translocation of giraffes. We also aim to stimulate discussion about best practices for giraffe translocations and further research into the ethical and practical considerations of moving giraffes.     

The last African white giraffes live in farmers’ fields

The giraffe population (Giraffa camelopardalis) in Niger is the last representative of the peralta sub-species which lived throughout West Africa at the beginning of the twentieth century. Protected since the 1970s, giraffes cohabit with humans in cultivated landscapes. This may not have appeared to pose many problems in the past, but the relationship between farmers and giraffes has deteriorated with the expansion of cultivated land and that of the giraffe population, with reported cases of giraffes damaging crops. A survey was conducted in all the affected villages in the Kouré area to establish the nature, severity and distribution of the damage and to evaluate the local populations’ perception of the problem. Cowpeas are fed upon in the field at harvest time and in the granaries, as well as ripe mangoes, during the most critical period for giraffes’ nutrition. The vast majority of farmers interviewed consider giraffes to be rather a problem in spite of tourism revenues they can obtain from them. This opinion has individually little correlation with damage rate on crops or easy access to tourism revenues. The damage risk factors are first and foremost considered as uncontrollable by the farmers, even if technical protection measures could easily be put in place locally. The inter-relationships between the socio-economic context and the way the problem is perceived are discussed.     

Giraffe squeeze cage procedure

A squeeze cage at Woodland Park Zoo has become a valuable tool in giraffe management. The cage has been used 63 times in 4 years with no serious injuries to animals or personnel. Conditioning the giraffes to the cage is of foremost importance in planning a successful restraining procedure. Individual giraffes react differently to the stress of being confined, so careful monitoring of behavior throughout is imperative to anticipate and prevent potential problems. Staff should be fully trained in the use of the equipment and familiar with the temperament of the giraffe. The cage is used for hoof trimming and routine medical examinations, including blood collection, X-rays, and giving injections.     

Assessment of contrafreeloading preferences in giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)

Contrafreeloading is an intriguing phenomenon in which animals will work to obtain resources, such as food, when the same resource is simultaneously freely available. Multiple hypotheses exist for why animals might choose to contrafreeload. In this study, we assessed preferences for contrafreeloading in giraffe at the Bronx Zoo to determine whether they actually preferred to contrafreeload or were simply demonstrating a willingness to contrafreeload. Food was presented in a range of distributions between an easily accessed feeding device and a more challenging one and the giraffes’ feeding behavior at these two types of feeding devices was recorded. As the experiments progressed, more giraffe used these more challenging feeders. There was significant individual variation in the expression of preference for contrafreeloading and willingness to contrafreeload. Individual, phase of the experiment, and an interaction between these factors were significant predictors of challenge feeder use. Three foraging strategies emerged among the giraffe that we termed “freeloaders,” “contrafreeloaders,” and “opportunists.” The results of this study demonstrate that multiple indices of preference are necessary when assessing contrafreeloading behavior, and that giraffe are affected to different degrees by the factors that stimulate contrafreeloading. These results may shed light on why different individuals use complex feeding enrichment devices to varying extents.