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Does captivity influence territorial and hunting behaviour? Assessment for an ex situ reintroduction program of African lions Panthera leo |
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| Authors: | Emma J Dunston Jackie Abell Rebecca E Doyle Deanna Duffy Craig Poynter Jacqui Kirk Victoria B Hilley Andrew Forsyth Emma Jenkins Dominique Mcallister Rafael Freire |
| Institution: | 1. School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia;2. Coventry University, UK;3. African Lion and Environmental Research Trust, Livingstone, Zambia;4. Animal Welfare Science Centre, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia;5. SPAN, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, Australia;6. SPAN, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia;7. African Lion and Environmental Research Trust, Gweru, Zimbabwe;8. Siyafunda, The Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve, Hoedspruit, South Africa |
| Abstract: | Maintaining a territory and being able to hunt are imperative for the success of African lion Panthera leo prides. We aimed to determine whether captive‐origin prides display similar territorial and hunting behaviour to wild lions. Behaviours and locations of two captive‐origin prides and one wild pride were collected through direct observation. All prides established territories, and core areas corresponded to resource requirements. There was no evidence that pride origin affected territorial or hunting behaviour. Captive‐origin prides exhibited behaviours that lead us to be optimistic about each pride's ability to establish and defend a territory successfully, and to hunt, following reintroduction. |
| Keywords: | African lion home range hunting behaviour territorial behaviour |