Incorporating the Enclosure MonitoR Use (EMU) App to ZooMonitor Observations Technical Report.

Welfare audits that contain behavior and enclosure use assessments are commonly used in zoos and aquaria. However, the two components are often used separately from one another, and many enclosure use studies are limited by analytical problems, despite the fact that enclosure use indices such as Entropy, modified Spread of Participation Index, and Electivity Index are available. The dawning of behavior monitoring apps has facilitated zoo behavioral research, but some of the original challenges experienced when analyzing enclosure use remain.

Future Aviary Design: The Science of Circular Flight Aviaries for Avian Welfare.

Birds are kept in captive settings globally, and many of these birds are not flight-restrained. It is generally considered more ethical to house birds in aviaries than to practice flight restraint through wing clipping or pinioning, which means that aviaries are needed to prevent birds from escaping. Traditionally, rectangular aviaries are commonly used; these aviaries may not be well designed for bird flight, especially for large-bodied species.

Should Zoo Food Be Chopped for Ruffed Lemurs? It's Not so Black and White.

Whole food diets in zoos have the potential to reduce microbial contamination and keeper preparation time, whilst also reducing food nutrient breakdown. Given these benefits, it is important to determine whether there is any value in chopping up food. Lemurs (Family Lemuridae) are common in zoos, with over 7500 individuals housed globally.

Exploration of Social Proximity and Behavior in Captive Malayan Tigers and Their Cubs.

The survival of endangered felids is becoming increasingly dependent on the successful management and breeding of reserve populations in captivity. While most felid species are reported to be solitary in the wild, increasing evidence suggests that some big cats have greater social plasticity than is currently acknowledged. This social plasticity allows felids to be sometimes socially housed in environments such as zoos and rescue centers.

Investigating Unused Tools for the Animal Behavioral Diversity Toolkit.

Behavioral diversity is a commonly used tool used to quantify the richness and evenness of animal behaviors and assess the effect of variables that may impact an animal's quality of life. The indices used in behavioral diversity research, and the study subjects, have not been formally reviewed. This paper aims to identify which indices are being used in behavioral diversity research, and under which scenarios, and uncover novel indices from other disciplines that could be applied to behavioral diversity.

Investigating the Behavior and Personality Structure of the Aldabra Tortoise during Human Interactions and Training Events.

Human-animal interaction (HAI) can be valuable for captive animals, and many zoo-housed species benefit from interactions with their keepers. There is also an increasing body of evidence that some animal species possess personalities that are temporally consistent. However, the majority of zoo research, particularly on personality and HAI, traditionally has focused on mammals, and there are comparatively fewer studies on reptiles.

A simulated comparison of behavioural observation sampling methods.

Behavioural research requires the use of sampling methods to document the occurrence of responses observed. Sampling/recording methods include ad libitum, continuous, pinpoint (instantaneous), and one-zero (interval) sampling. Researchers have questioned the utility of each sampling method under different contexts.