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Environmental Enrichment for Australian Mammals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

A J Murray ,
N K Waran  and
R J Young
A J Murray*
Affiliation:
51 Franks Lane, Chesterton, Cambridge CB4 1RR, UK
N K Waran
Affiliation:
The Institute of Ecology and Resource Management, Agriculture Building, West Mains Rd, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK
R J Young
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture and Horticulture, De Montfort University, Caythorpe, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG32 3EP, UK
*
† Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints
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Abstract

Many of Australia's nocturnal mammals are rare or endangered in the wild. The behavioural integrity of captive populations of endangered species can be maintained through the application of environmental enrichment techniques. This study investigated the effectiveness of feeding enrichment in promoting behavioural diversity, enclosure usage and species-typical behaviours in the ghost bat (Macroderma gigas) and the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis). Animals were observed for 300 min day-1 over three consecutive time periods: baseline (12 non-consecutive days); enrichment: (12 consecutive days); and post-enrichment: (12 non-consecutive days). The use of a live insect dispenser decreased grooming and increased out-of-sight and social behaviour in the ghost bat. Artificial gum trees promoted species-typical behaviours in the yellow-bellied glider. Enrichment for nocturnal mammals had variable results and different welfare implications for these animals.

Keywords

Australian mammalsenrichmentnocturnalspecies-typicalwelfare
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 7 , Issue 4 , November 1998 , pp. 415 - 425
Copyright
© 1998 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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