| From the early march to the end of December2009, we investigated the behavior of captive sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) at Shanghai Zoo using manual observation and infrared cameras in order to supplement valuable information for captive management of this species. The behavior of the Malayan sun bear was year-round track record by all events sampling method, the target sampling method and transient scanning sampling method. The time allocated for their actions, the behavioral rhythm, impact factor analysis, and sports grounds area utilization has been systematically studied. The first, ethograms were composed of resting, locomotion, pacing, begging, feeding, climbing, exploring, rubbing, playing, chase, sniffing, warning, fighting, mounting, cunnilingus, mating, and elimination. These behaviors were categorized as resting, locomotion, begging, stereotyped (e.g., pacing or waving), social, or other behaviors for comparison and analysis.The second, Each animal was scanned every6min by one observer between8:30and16:30and by infrared camera recordings for a period of24hours. Observations were carried out on5bears (3males and2females) during spring and summer, and6bears (4males and2females) during autumn and winter. The bears ranged in age from5to13years. After processing, analysis and compare, the following results:1. Sun bears spent more time resting (65.80%and51.21%) in the24h and in the daytime (from8:30to16:30), followed by locomotion (15.68%and21.59%) and begging (5.70%and8.94%). Social behavior (2.73%and3.43%) and other behavior (4.39%and5.22%) was the least.2. Sun bears showed different daily patterns of activities in captivity. Different season activities of the overall curve trend rule is similar. Each behavior has different levels of seasonal differences. Resting behavior exhibited a "W" type curve on a daily basis. Resting was recorded mainly from00:00-5:00hrs and from20:00-24:00hrs. Activity generally began around6:00hrs, and a peak in feeding and locomotion was recorded at8:00-8:54hrs. During the same time intervals, begging, and social behaviors gradually increased. The bears were housed in cages to which access was available from playground. In the playground, peaks of begging occurred around10:00and16:00hrs when there were many tourists in Shanghai Zoo. Activity gradually declined after19:00hrs as resting increased.3. Sun bears showed different patterns of activity across seasons. Locomotion (F=62.748, P<0.001) and social behavior (F=26.041, P<0.001) varied significantly among seasons. Locomotion was lower during spring and summer, and lowest in summer (13.96%). Locomotion was significantly higher during autumn and winter, and highest in autumn (43.99%). Social behavior was highest during spring and summer. Stereotyped behavior differed significantly among seasons (F=4.667, P<0.05) and was highest in spring (7.65%) and lowest in summer (0.69%). No significant differences were found in resting (F=1.857, P>0.05) and begging (F=1.180, P>0.05) among different seasons. There were significant differences in the proportions of locomotion (P=0.002) and stereotyped behavior (P=0.001) between spring and summer. Sun bears exhibited significantly higher levels of locomotion and stereotyped behavior in spring than in summer. There was no significant difference between autumn and winter in the remaining six types of behaviors. Comparison of behaviors by age class during spring and summer indicated that age was a significant variable affecting resting, locomotion, social, begging and stereotyped behaviors. Males showed significantly more social behavior (in spring:P=0.000, in summer:P=0.002) than females.4. Activity levels were higher in the playground than in cages. Resting and stereotyped behaviors mainly occurred in cages, and locomotion mostly occurred in the playground. Resting behavior in cages plotted a curve of the "W" type on a daily basis. Our study showed that the behavior of sun bear is influenced by season, sex, and presence of visitors.5. Use of different areas (regions a, b,c,d and e) of the play ground of the sun bear in captivity was observed throughout the year. Data showed that ratio of use of these refions were25.9%in region a,6.59%in region b,36.4%in region c,8.02%in region d and23.1%in region e. They rested mostly in region c (58.98%) and region e (23.31%). Moving of the occurence rate is41.49%in region a, and the other four areas of occurring is average. Social behavior occurred mostly in region e (41.97%) and c (18.84%).94.17%begging behaviors occurred in region a. Stereotyped behavior occurred in region e (60.23%) and a (27.60%).Discuss the results analysis shows that the two experimental method of manual observation and infrared cameras has advantages and disadvantages. According to the actual needs can be combined with focused. The time budget of captive sun bears is different from that under natural conditions. However, similar to other captive animals. Behavior rhythm rules can be found, and by age, sex, captivity and seasonal factors. Regional utilization and behavior in the regional incidence was studied to provide a reference for malayan sun bear feeding and management and the restoration and improvement of the captive environment. |
PDF Full Text Request