Abstract
Stereotypic behavior has been studied in various species, but little information exists on stereotypies in giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) under professional care. Giant anteaters are known for their solitary nature and well-developed sense of smell. This study examined the effect of conspecifics who were housed off-exhibit on a male giant anteater’s rate of pacing and pacing intensity when he was on-exhibit. Instantaneous sampling was used to determine the percentage of time pacing, the number of pacing bouts and pacing bout duration. Randomization tests determined that the reduction in the male giant anteater’s rate of pacing significantly decreased after conspecifics were relocated to a different building. Pacing bout duration, a potential measure of intensity, also significantly decreased during the treatment phase. In addition, the giant anteater changed his pacing location after the removal of conspecifics. He transitioned from pacing near the conspecifics’ off-exhibit location during the baseline to the opposite quadrant of the exhibit after their departure. These results suggest that keeping a male giant anteater in proximity to conspecifics without the ability to interact with them had an impact on his behavior. Better understanding the motivations for stereotypic behaviors of giant anteaters will better inform housing decisions made by zoo professionals.
Highlights
As zoological institutions strive to optimize the welfare of animals under professional care, they are continuously seeking new knowledge about the species within their collections (Ward et al, 2018)
A species’ proximity to conspecifics can be a risk factor for stereotypic behavior depending on their social status in their natural habitat and their housing arrangement while under professional care (Mason et al, 2007)
Even if risk factors for pacing are understood for a species or individual, pacing may still arise in animals under professional care and should be evaluated to uncover the cause and understand the effect on the animal’s welfare (Mason, 1991)
Summary
As zoological institutions strive to optimize the welfare of animals under professional care, they are continuously seeking new knowledge about the species within their collections (Ward et al, 2018). The logical starting point for any type of species, including the giant anteater, is to determine the individual’s pacing motivation through the lens of risk factors determined by its natural history (Rose et al, 2017a). The giant anteater is a Xenarthran with a distinctive morphology and large body mass of 22 to 39 kg in the wild Their large front claws, long snout, toothless mouth and thin tongue (Gaudin et al, 2018) make them a specialist in foraging for ants and termites (Bertassoni & Milléo Costa, 2010; Eisenberg & Redford, 1999; Gaudin et al, 2018). The agonistic encounter described by Miranda Junior and Bertassoni (2014) was confirmed to be between a male and female carrying her cub
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