VMD 512: Zoo/Wild Animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

DEVELOPMENTAL BEHAVIOR

Social deprivation

Altered behavior due to social deprivation is commonly observed in non-human primates like rhesus macaques. The following behaviors get affected.

• eating behaviour
• drinking behaviour
• reaction to pain
• explorative behaviour
• maternal motivation and skill

Imprinting

• This is a genetically programmed learning, observed in birds as well as in many mammals. Imprinting occurs during a relatively short, well defined period of time usually early in the life of the individual.

BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS

Stereotyped behaviour

Repetition of motor acts is caused by a variety of reasons especially the boredom. Examples of stereotyped motor acts are given below

• rocking
• repetitive somersaulting
• repetitive head tossing or weaving
• repetitive bouncing in place
• repetitive pacing.

Displaced activities

• This is the inappropriate activity due to strong activation of innate behaviour by stimulus. Eg. When primate fails in attracting visitors during begging, it engages in grooming and scratching themselves.

Feeding disorders

• Eg- Food wasting behaviour in captive raccoons
• Plucking of entire feathers of chicken by ocelots.