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B. BASSON, E. HOLT, R. SHAH, C. SKELDON
New husbandry regime and welfare monitoring programme for the Clouded Leopards, Neofelis
nebulosa brachyurus, at Westbrook Zoo
INTRODUCTION
• A secretive, arboreal ambush predator of subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest and shrubland of Southeast Asia (Fletchall, 2000)
• IUCN status – vulnerable and declining due to harvesting and habitat destruction (IUCN, 2008)
• The only member of genus - taxonomically unique and reproduces poorly in captivity (Brown et al, 1995)
• Sub-species thought to be extinct in the wild
SCENARIO
• General health problems– Diet
• Stress related behaviour– Stereotypic behaviour– Self-directed behaviour
• Aggression between individuals• Current housing insufficient
– Disturbance– Lack of enrichment– Insufficient enclosure size and
design
AIM
To provide an environment that replicates natural habitat closely in order to increase the
potential to express natural behaviour and increase welfare and reproductive success
EXHIBIT LOCATION
Area B• Reduce impact from predators and prey
• Close car park surrounding area to minimise disturbance
Clouded Leopard
enclosure
Main entrance - visitors
Car p
arkin
gS
taff entrance
Car entrance
Monitor behaviour + construct Ethogram
Enrichment program
Transfer to temporary housing
Construction of new enclosures
Staff training
Transfer to individual enclosures
Settlement period
Monitor sexual behaviour
Start introduction program
May
20
08
Apr
il 20
08
June
20
08
Sep
tem
ber
2008
Oct
ober
20
08N
ovem
ber
2008
Dec
embe
r 20
08Ja
nuar
y 20
09
Oct
ober
20
09
Aug
ust
2008
July
20
08
Monitor behaviour + construct Ethogram
Enrichment program
Transfer to temporary housing
Construction of new enclosures
Staff training
Transfer to individual enclosures
Settlement period
Monitor sexual behaviour
Start introduction program
May
20
08
Apr
il 20
08
June
20
08
Sep
tem
ber
2008
Oct
ober
20
08N
ovem
ber
2008
Dec
embe
r 20
08Ja
nuar
y 20
09
Oct
ober
20
09
Aug
ust
2008
July
20
08
ENRICHMENT
•Enclosure– Dense vegetation– Increased privacy– Varied topography
•Diet– Scatter feed– Whole prey items (McFee, 2002)
– Fast days•Environmental enrichment
– Olfactory stimuli– Physical stimuli
(Fletchall, 2000)
STAFF TRAINING & WELFARE MONITORING
•Reduce staff number to 4 (Law and Tatner, 1998; Wielebnowski, 2002)
•Training and workshops– Record keeping– Education– Feeding regime– Enrichment– Cortisol monitoring and faecal analysis (Law and Tatner, 1998)
– Ethogram construction
STAFF TRAINING & WELFARE MONITORING cont.
Management•General behavioural observation
– Monitoring stress– Stereotypic– Self directed
•Monitor physiological stress indicators– Cortisol from faecal samples– Reliable, non-invasive method– Continuous monitoring to establish accurate baseline data (Graham and Brown, 1996)
Monitor behaviour + construct Ethogram
Enrichment program
Monitor sexual behaviour
Start introduction program
Construction of new enclosures
Staff training
Transfer to individual enclosures
Settlement period
Transfer to temporary housing
May
20
08
Apr
il 20
08
June
20
08
Sep
tem
ber
2008
Oct
ober
20
08N
ovem
ber
2008
Dec
embe
r 20
08Ja
nuar
y 20
09
Oct
ober
20
09
Aug
ust
2008
July
20
08
PREPARATION & BREEDING
•Increase behavioural observations looking for behaviours associated with oestrus cycle (Umapathy et al, 2007)
– Increased vocalisation– Rolling– Cheek marking
• Measuring faecal estradiol-17 and progestin concentrations to monitor ovarian function (Graham et al, 1995)
INTRODUCTION PROGRAMME
• Introduction activity at night• Replicate home range overlap
prior to courtship (Law and Tatner, 1998)
• One is confined to den while other has access to whole enclosure to investigate and scent-mark (Law and Tatner, 1998)
• No access to dens when cats eventually meet
• Reduce potential aggression in male
• All staff present
Law and Tatner, 1998; Fletchall, 2000)
Monitor behaviour + construct Ethogram
Enrichment program
Monitor sexual behaviour
Start introduction program
Construction of new enclosures
Staff training
Transfer to individual enclosures
Settlement period
Transfer to temporary housing
May
20
08
Apr
il 20
08
June
20
08
Sep
tem
ber
2008
Oct
ober
20
08N
ovem
ber
2008
Dec
embe
r 20
08Ja
nuar
y 20
09
Oct
ober
20
09
Aug
ust
2008
July
20
08
BREEDING OUTCOMES
• If breeding successful:– Refer to studbook for re-housing offspring– Pair cubs before age of 1 (Brown et al, 1995; Fletchall, 2000)
– Discourage hand rearing • If breeding attempts fail repeatedly:
– Consider lighting system (Brown et al, 1995)
– Consider artificial insemination (last resort) (Fletchall, 2000)
REFERENCES
Brown, J.L. Wildt, D.E. Graham, L.H. byers, A.P. Collins, L. Barret, S. & Howard, J. (1995) Natural versus chorionic gondatropin-induced ovarian responses in the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) assessed by fecal steroid analysis. Biology of Reproduction 53, 93-102
Fletchall, N.B.(2000) Husbandry guidelines for the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) Grand Rapids, MI: John Ball Zoological Garden. 60-69
Graham, L. H. Goodrowe, K,L. Raeside, J.I. & Liptrap, R.M. (1995) Non-invasive monitoring of ovarian function in several felid species by measurement of fecal estradiol-17. Zoo Biology 14, 223-237
Graham, L.H. & Brown, J.L. (1996) Cortisol metabolism in the domestic cat and implications for non-invasive monitoring of adrenocortical function in endangered felids. Zoo Biology 15, 71-82
IUCN Red List (2008) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. [Online] available at: www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/14519/summ
Law, G. & Tatner, P. (1998) Behaviour of a captive pair of clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa): Introduction without injury. Animal Welfare 7, 57-76
McFee, M.E. (2002) Intact Carcasses as Enrichment for Large Felids: Effects on On- and Off-Exhibit Behaviors. Zoo Biology 21, 37-47
Umapathy, G., Sontakke, S.D., Srinivasu, K., Kiran, T., Kholkute, S.D & Shivaji, S. (2007) Estrus behaviour and fecal steroid profiles in the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) during natural and gondatropin-induces estrus. Animal Reproductive Science 101, 313-325
Wielebnowski, N.C. Fletchall, N. Carlstead, K., Busso, J.M. & Brown, J.L (2002) Noninvasive assessment of adrenal activity associated with husbandry and behavioural factors in the North American clouded leopard population. Zoo Biology 21, 77-98
