The Welfare and Educational Impacts of Encounter Experiences and Displays on Zoo-Housed Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens).

Chapter 11 - Red panda husbandry and reproductive management

The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is an endangered semi-arboreal folivore with a specialized diet of bamboo leaves. Zoos worldwide maintain red pandas under a variety of housing environments and husbandry procedures that may affect the reproductive success and longevity of captive red pandas. The aims of the present study were to investigate how red pandas are kept in Japan and to obtain useful insights to increase their longevity by comparing the results from a questionnaire sent to Japanese zoos and those from a previous survey conducted in other countries. We received responses from 42 out of 52 zoos, holding a total of 219 individual red pandas, in Japan. The age-sex distribution indicated that red panda populations in Japan need close attention to be maintained sustainably. Of the husbandry aspects surveyed, the number of individuals in the same zoo, enclosure size, and the frequency of bamboo feeding factors indicated to affect reproductive success. Frequent monitoring of body weight, implementation of husbandry training, and bamboo feeding were also suggested as the reasons for the longevity of red pandas in Japan. Zoos were provided with sufficient physical features in on-exhibit enclosures, close monitoring for health status, and proper feeding, but other aspects of husbandry such as enclosure size and structures in off-exhibit spaces were insufficient and might compromise animal welfare.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Species-Spanning Pathology

In this article, we consider the extent to which wildlife tourism in China has become a nodal point where human-animal interactions have been consistently shaped and reshaped by the multiple layers of naturecultural complexity. We do this by investigating Chinese visitors' evaluation of animal welfare as they apply to red and giant pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (Panda Base). A survey of Chinese visitors indicated generally positive perceptions of the welfare conditions of pandas at Panda Base. Visitors largely viewed the institution as providing excellent care to pandas, reflecting a high degree of public trust in the organization. While red pandas were perceived to experience slightly better welfare conditions, visitor concern and attention focussed more heavily on giant pandas-possibly due to their iconic status. This study investigates how species status and environmental visibility influence Chinese visitors' perceptions of animal welfare at a major wildlife tourism site. It highlights how iconic animals such as the giant panda are often assumed to receive excellent care, while lesser-known species like the red panda invite more diverse interpretations-thus revealing a potential symbolic bias in public welfare judgements. These findings suggest a symbolic bias in welfare judgements, shaped not only by observable enclosure features but also by the animals' cultural significance in the native culture.

The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) can be found in zoos around the world, and various behavioral restraint procedures are used as part of their health care. Wild animals that are kept in zoos, including red pandas, are known to have a longer life span than those in the wild. Therefore, the health management of aging animals is considered especially important for zoos that maintain many precious wild animals. Blood pressure measurement is important for determining cardiovascular dynamics, however there are no reports of blood pressure measurements performed in red pandas without anesthesia. In this study, we measured blood pressure in four red pandas, over 4 years to establish a blood pressure measurement method using behavioral restraints. As a result, the blood pressure of red pandas was found to be similar to that of dogs and cats. In addition, in one case of red panda that evaluated high blood pressure during the measurement period, we added the antihypertensive drug and showed good effect for improvement of hypertension on long- term monitoring. Blood pressure values obtained using noninvasive methods were useful for red pandas. Moreover, these data were considered important for animal welfare.

Research on animal personality has revealed that it is stable and contextually consistent and has a significant impact on an animal’s physiology and psychological wellbeing. Personality, sometimes referred to as behavioral syndromes, personality dimensions, or temperament, impacts health, reproductive success, and survival, and is thus an important factor to consider when assessing the welfare of captive animals. In this study, eight red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) were observed from three institutions in New York City to determine if personality dimensions can be assessed in this species using an ethological approach. Two personality dimensions were described: 1) “Active/Exploratory” and 2) “Maintenance”. The “Active/Exploratory” dimension is consistent with several personality dimensions found in other mammalian species, while the “Maintenance” dimension may be related to “Tense” or “Fearful” dimensions found in other species. There is not enough evidence to draw conclusions about age and sex differences related to these personality dimensions, but the “Active/Exploratory” dimension may be inversely correlated with age. Both personality dimensions have ecological and welfare implications. This study can serve as the start of a deeper investigation into personality dimensions in red pandas and the impact they have on the welfare of this species in captivity and possibly the wild.

At high elevations, biodiversity is at elevated risk from extinctions due to rapid environmental changes. In the most of its range in Himalayas, the red panda, an endangered species, is struggling to survive in the wild, and a global captive breeding programme has been launched to conserve the species. Because captivity can have negative impacts on animals, reducing the chance of successful reintroduction, we investigated the predictors of stereotyped behaviour and behavioural diversity of red panda (n = 26), and the effect of stereotypy on their behavioural diversity in three Indian zoos. Multivariate analysis showed that stereotypy increased with density of logs on the ground, age and higher among pandas in zoo 3 compared to zoo 2, but decreased with number of nests, sociality, tree density and tree height used. Similarly, behavioural diversity increased with log density, but decreased among pandas in zoo 2 compared to zoo 1, during summer compared to winter, and also with ambient temperature, stereotypy, tree density, and tree height used. The relationship between stereotypy and behavioural diversity was negative, but not significant. Provision of a greater density of trees was associated with higher levels of daytime inactivity. Findings from this study have global relevance, as the captive red panda experiences similar welfare issues around the world, and our data provide empirical support for some existing guidelines for red panda husbandry.

Throughout the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, British East India Company officials, based in the Indian subcontinent, amassed huge collections of natural history images. One of the largest collections, consisting of many thousands of individual paintings commissioned mainly from Indian artists between 1790 and 1823, was formed by Major-General Thomas Hardwicke. Some of these later formed the basis of John Edward Gray’s Illustrations of Indian zoology, but the vast majority remained unpublished. This paper focuses on one of these images, a detailed watercolour of the red panda ( Ailurus fulgens), painted to accompany a scientific description of the species which Hardwicke sent from Bengal to the Linnean Society of London in 1820. The painting pre-dates Frédéric Cuvier’s description of the animal by four years, and is almost certainly the first image of the red panda to have arrived in Europe. This paper sets the painting in the context of Hardwicke’s career as a naturalist and private patron of Indian artists, highlighting both his role as an early investigator of Indian zoology and the importance of “Company Art” in the accrual of scientific information.

Chapter 13 - Red Panda Husbandry for Reproductive Management

Chapter 17 - Red Pandas in Zoos Today; The History of the Current Captive Population

This paper investigates the views of multi-stakeholders on the governance quality of existing forest management strategies for red panda (Ailurus fulgens) protection in Nepal, focusing on forest governance in general, red panda conservation programmes and natural habitat protection in particular. The study deployed two surveys in August and September 2020. The first survey was conducted online for the stakeholders with internet access; for those without, it was conducted over the phone. While the results reveal almost similar perspectives among the stakeholders regarding the effectiveness of the red panda management approaches, they differ significantly between the online survey and telephonic survey, in terms of the relative scores given to these initiatives. In depth, follow-up interviews revealed that marginalised groups had little access to income generation from conservation activities and few capacity-building opportunities. These findings indicate that while management strategies for red panda conservation were generally considered effective by online survey participants which are generally more privileged, this is less effective for marginalised people. Local people, who are typically resource-poor and reliant on the forest, continue to endure inequitable resource distribution and benefit sharing. Consequently, greater attention should be paid to balancing the conservation needs and basic needs of forest-dependent communities through capacity building, income generation and alternative sources of livelihood.

Chapter 15 - Management, husbandry and veterinary medicine of red pandas living ex situ in China using the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding as a model

ABSTRACTThe opportunity to observe or interact with animals in a zoo is often vital in influencing visitors' positive feelings towards animals and ultimately their conservation behavior. This study explores the relationship between observed animal behavior and zoo visitors' responses. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 717 visitors across four exhibits (giraffe, lion, cheetah, and red panda) at three zoos (Brookfield Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and Central Park Zoo). The questionnaire measured observed animal behaviors and visitors' predispositions, affective responses, and meaning-making at animal exhibits. Multivariate path analyses indicated that up-close encounters with zoo animals, along with observable active animal behaviors, predicted visitors' reported positive affective responses which, in turn, predicted their meaning-making. These findings lend support to the role of positive affect as a mediator between observable animal behaviors and visitor meaning-making. Implications are discussed in relation to achieving both conservation education and animal welfare outcomes.

Animal welfare and ethics are emerging issues influencing production practices, societal focus and legislation in animal agriculture. The objective of this work was to investigate the knowledge and perceptions of undergraduate students on animal welfare and ethical issues in production systems. An anonymous survey was developed with Qualtrics using a 5-point Likert scale: (1) strongly disagree, (2) disagree, (3) neutral, (4) agree, and (5) strongly agree. The survey was administered to 80 undergraduate students majoring in agriculture, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A total of 53 participants completed the survey (response rate =66.25%), and they were mostly between the ages of 19 and 24 (81%), and females (52%). Students’ prior experiences with animals varied with those that had owned pets/companion animals (45%), grew up on livestock farms (24%), had ample experience with livestock (16%), to those that had little or no farm/animal experience (10%). About 52% strongly agreed that animal welfare was important in farm animal production, whereas 30% disagreed that human interests (e.g., profit, food production) should be prioritized over the welfare of farm animals. Majority of the students supported the use of animal welfare certifications (51%), but disagreed (55%) to the statement that animals should not be used for food production because the animal cannot consent to sharing of milk or eggs or to be slaughtered. About 44% of the students agreed that they were aware of animal welfare controversies related to factory farming, whereas 52% of the students were not familiar with the five freedoms of animal welfare. Some issues considered critical in farm animal welfare were animal confinement (60%); slaughterhouse practices (55%); use of antibiotics and hormones (53%); physical alterations (47%); transportation conditions of farm animals (43%); using animals for research (38%), continuous breeding for productivity (23%), among others. Half of the respondents (50%) agreed that the animal industry should implement effective practices and programs to assess animal welfare at farms and factories, and most students either agreed (43%) or strongly agreed (24%) that it was possible to balance the ethical treatment of animals with the need for food security in growing global populations. Students agreed (42%) that consumers had the right to know how farm animals were treated through labeling on animal products, and 43% strongly agreed that educational programs were essential in improving public knowledge and action on animal welfare. This study revealed important outcomes on the extent of students’ knowledge and perspectives on animal welfare and ethics, given their crucial role as consumers and future professionals in the animal industry. Therefore, the inclusion of animal welfare and ethics education into the agricultural curriculum is critical in expanding the formal education of undergraduate students and the training of future professionals.

Although leading veterinary organizations emphasize the importance of animal welfare knowledge, there exists a gap in current veterinary student animal welfare education and training. A survey instrument was created to assess third-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) student knowledge of key animal welfare topics, opinions regarding the inclusion of welfare education in the veterinary curriculum, and views on veterinarian responsibilities as advocates. In Spring 2018, Colorado State University added a required animal welfare course to the DVM curriculum. Pre- and post-course paper surveys were distributed to the third-year students enrolled in the animal welfare course. One hundred thirty one completed pre-course surveys were collected and 125 completed post-course surveys were collected. Of the pre and post-course surveys collected, 61 were paired with identification codes and utilized for statistical comparison. Results indicated that the course led students to view the inclusion of an animal welfare course in the veterinary curriculum more favorably (p = 0.009) and improved their confidence in conducting research on animal welfare topics (p < 0.001). The course did not change students' sense of responsibility toward welfare advocacy. Associations were not found between attitudes toward these issues and demographic variables of home community, respondent gender, and track selection (p > 0.06). Veterinarians were consistently ranked by students as the most influential member of a community in matters of animal welfare. Future research on the lack of veterinary student knowledge of animal welfare should be done on a national scale to facilitate strategic development of mandatory animal welfare courses in veterinary curricula. Future research should be designed to gain knowledge regarding DVM students' opinions and attitudes regarding effective methods of incorporating animal welfare education into their professional training.