ANIMAL WELFARE
Research on animal behavior and welfare
PROJECT .
RESEARCHER
ANIMAL KEEPER
BACKGROUND
Research on animal welfare in zoos is often compromised by small sample sizes: if on the one hand it is useful to monitor the different species for long periods of time in order to see their behavioral changes over time, on the other it is essential to increase the number of animals monitored, involving the largest number of zoological institutions in a particular research, to also observe their individual variability.
The Zoom Foundation is carrying out several multizoo studies on different species and 2 studies in nature.
PERFORMED ACTIVITIES.
15 studies activated in other European zoos
-
9 Ongoing multizoo feline studies: Behavioral and social dynamics in groups of felines in controlled environment: Feline species have been considered mostly solitary for years, with the exception of lions. Recent monitoring technologies such as camera traps and radio tracking are allowing us to document more and more exceptions to this hypothesis, showing that not only lions are social felines. In fact, the reduction of habitats is leading more and more individuals to aggregate and/or to remain together even as adults, i.e. after the juvenile phase, phase where they generally stay together.
The objective is therefore to study the sociality and behavior of different species of felines (today little investigated), thanks to the study of groups present in different zoological structures
-
4 ongoing multizoo penguin studies:
according to research priorities on African penguins, a highly endangered and rapidly declining species, in collaboration with SANCCOB and different national universities, the Foundation is carrying out the following research:
-
Moult study with the support of EAZA (European association of Zoo and Aquaria)
-
Study on aspergillosis in collaboration with the University of Turin – Department of Veterinary Sciences
-
Study on malaria in collaboration with the University of Bari and the Pistoia zoo
-
Study on the vocalizations of African penguins and the different dynamics in collaboration with the University of Turin - Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology
-
2 studies on LEMURI and their behavioral and reproductive dynamics, in collaboration with the University of Turin – Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology and il Department of Veterinary Sciences
-
1 study on SIAMANGHI GIBBONS and their vocalizations in collaboration with the University of Turin – Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology and il Department of Veterinary Sciences
PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.
Activation of 2 in situ studies on the ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF LIONS AND OTHER LARGE CARNIVORES IN NAMIBIA AND BOTSWANA in collaboration with the WILDLIFE INITIATIVE and the LEOPARD ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION FOUNDATION per census of lions and other large carnivores to monitor their behaviour, in order to collect as much information as possible, which on the one hand can give us more and more knowledge about their behaviour, and on the other hand provide information on their presence and abundance.
The activities of humans and pets intersect with those of wildlife, which often leads to conflict.
Large carnivores are particularly prone to interacting with humans due to their large spatial and food requirements and can cause considerable economic damage, mainly by depredating livestock and can also attack people.
Among the large carnivores, felines are probably the ones that provoke the most contradictory reactions, mainly due to the impact they have on domestic animals.
Predatory activity by felines can be influenced by environmental conditions, habitat availability, abundance and distribution of wild prey, livestock grazing and husbandry practices.
The study involves the placement of camera traps and acoustic sensors in strategic areas, in order to be able to map lion populations and be able to investigate their behaviors useful for supporting local organizations for good animal management and thus reducing the ever-increasing human-wildlife conflict
Objectives will therefore be
-
analyze the basic aspects of the human-carnivore conflict and then contact the local authorities to implement effective solutions
-
sensitize the local inhabitants on the importance of biodiversity conservation and on the potential benefits deriving from it.
-
compare the data collected ex situ in the various European zoological structures, with the data that will be collected in nature, in order to better understand their behaviors and their dynamics in order to support rangers and local organizations in their knowledge and protection in nature .
PARTNER.
.png)
