Important tools for Amazon Parrot reintroduction programs

Cristiano Schetini De Azevedo,Julio Cesar Rodrigues Fontenelle,Lívia Soares Furtado Rodrigues

doi:10.1007/bf03544370

Abstract

Anti-predator behavior and personality have important consequences for the survival of captive-bred animals after reintroduction in the wild. The personality of an animal can be defined as low within-individual variation in behavior relative to between-individual variation in behavior. Mortality caused by predation is the main reason for reintroduction failure, and training captive-born animals to avoid predators can solve this problem. However, how anti-predator training affects the personality of animals is uncertain. The objective of this study was to test the behavioral responses of captive Amazon Parrots (Amazona aestiva, Psittacidae) submitted to an anti-predator conditioning protocol, and to evaluate if anti-predator training affects parrot personalities. Twenty-six parrots were trained against predators using taxidermized models; their personalities were evaluated by calculating boldness scores before and after anti-predator training sessions. Parrots increased the expression of anti-predator behaviors when tested with all models; control groups behaved in a more relaxed way. The anti-predator responses persisted for 60 days after the end of the training sessions. Boldness scores increased in 50% of cases after anti-predator training sessions, and in only 33% of cases did parrots become shyer after anti-predator training. The tendency of parrots to exhibit bold behaviors in the personality tests, even after the training sessions, may be explained by their early experiences, low behavioral plasticity or high cognitive ability. Training naive parrots was an effective tool to enhance behavioral responses against predators before reintroduction. The study of personality is of great importance in reintroduction and translocation programs to determine the position of each individual in the shy-bold continuum and to help select individuals more suited for reintroduction.

Highlights

Predation is one of the most important factors that affect species distribution and abundance (McLean et al 1999, Begon et al 2006)
The objective of this study was to test the behavioral responses of captive Amazon Parrots (Amazona aestiva, Psittacidae) submitted to an anti-predator conditioning protocol, and to evaluate if anti-predator training affects parrot personalities
Parrots trained with the ocelot hid more than the control group, and parrots trained against all predators flew more than the parrots of the control group (Fig. 2)

Summary

Introduction

Predation is one of the most important factors that affect species distribution and abundance (McLean et al 1999, Begon et al 2006). Anti-predator behavior has been studied mostly in fish, birds and mammals (Griffin et al 2000), and the most commonly performed strategies by animals include hiding, escaping, freezing or fighting (Sanz & Grajal 1998, Eilam 2005, Rosier & Langkilde 2011, Yorzinski & Platt 2012, Miles et al 2013). Mortality caused by predation has been critical in some reintroduction/translocation attempts (Beck et al.1991, Short et al 1992, Miller et al 1994). Death of captive-born animals soon after reintroduction can be minimized by releasing the animals in predator-free areas, by building fences to avoid the entrance of predators, by eliminating the local predators by translocations or hunting, or by training naïve animals to recognize and to avoid predators (Griffin et al 2000). The use of antipredator conditioning has increased in the last decade (Miller et al 1994, Maloney & McLean 1995, McLean 1996, Richards 1998, McLean et al 1999, Azevedo & Young 2006, Specht 2007, Miles et al 2013)

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Conclusion