Case report on welfare of captive tigers - Ethological and physiological parameters

CASE REPORT ON WELFARE OF CAPTIVE TIGERS - ETHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS BERTOCCHI M1, SPIEZIO C2, DI IANNI F1, MACCHI E3, PARMIGIANI E1, QUINTAVALLA F1 1University of Parma, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Health Dept., Obstetric and Reproduction Unit, Via del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, ITALY; mara.bertocchi@studenti.unipr.it 2Parco Natura Viva – Garda Zoological Park, Research and Conservation Dept., Località Figara 40, 37012 Bussolengo, VR, ITALY 3University of Turin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Dept. of Veterinary Morphophysiology, Via Leonardo da Vinci 44, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, ITALY In recent years animal welfare assessment methods have been developed which combine ethological and physiological parameters. Management of big cats in captivity appears to be particularly complex, these animals are indeed prone to develop behavioural problems. This study was performed to assess the welfare of a non-breeding pair of tigers (Panthera tigris), as the female was under contraception, using ethological and physiological parameters. The tigers were housed at an Italian zoological garden. During the day the animals were kept together in the outdoor enclosure, whereas overnight the tigers were individually housed. Twenty 45-min sessions for each subject were run. Focal animal sampling method was used to record individual and social behaviours; in addition faecal cortisol level was monitored by collecting faecal samples once a day from the two tigers: 9 from the female and 5 from the male. The concentration of cortisol metabolites was determined by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Single case analysis was run to analyse behavioural data and cortisol levels. Findings highlight that species-specific behaviours were performed by both animals. However significant differences between the two tigers were observed in stress-related behaviours (p < 0.01): the female showed stereotypical behaviour (pacing) whereas the male did not. No significant differences in faecal cortisol levels were observed (p = 0.28) although the female showed higher levels than the male. Results for both ethological and physiological parameters seem to indicate a poorer welfare status for the female than the male. Integrating physiological and ethological approach can be useful to assess animal welfare.