Sains Malaysiana 50(10)(2021): 2877-2884

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2021-5010-03

Social Behaviour and Circadian Variations in Different Activities of Captive Hog Deer (Axis porcinus)

(Tingkah Laku Sosial dan Variasi Sirkadian dalam Aktiviti Berbeza Rusa Babi Peliharaan (Axis porcinus))

ZAHID FAROOQ¹, IRFAN BABOO¹*, MUHAMMAD YOUNAS², KHALID JAVED IQBAL³, SANA ASAD¹, MUHAMMAD SHAHBAZ⁴, MUHAMMAD MAZHAR MUNIR⁵, MUHAMMAD SALEEM KHAN⁴ & MUHAMMAD WAJID²

¹Department of Zoology, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur, Pakistan

²Department of Zoology, University of Okara, Okara, Pakistan

³Department of Zoology, The Islamia University Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur

⁴Department of Zoology, Women University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bagh

⁵Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Received: 25 December 2019/Accepted: 18 February 2021

ABSTRACT  

Management practices/strategies to re-modulate the wild behaviour of animal species could increase their number in natural areas. The captive herd of hog deer showed slight changes from wild behaviour due to captive stress with no alteration in wild behaviour pattern except captive stress. Adult males (6), adult females (6) and fawns (6) were selected and observed round the clock for thirty days across season after one-hour interval on each activity. All subjects in hotter part of the day spent more time in sitting and rest. While, few hours of night in sleeping, resting and rumination. Fawn spent more time in sitting, resting, and hiding compared to adults. During wandering, they also spent some time in standing. It was noticed that all hog deer in herd not slept together but few of them remain active. Only male fighting was observed and maximum was noticed in August and September during breeding season. Hog deer were mainly crepuscular in feeding with irregular short intakes, and grazing on grasses present in enclosure. This study provides guideline to rehabilitate wild hog deer for better breeding management, conservation and raising practices. 

Keywords: Captivity; circadian variation; hog deer; Pakistan; social behaviour

ABSTRAK

Amalan/strategi pengurusan untuk memodulasi semula tingkah laku liar spesies haiwan dapat meningkatkan jumlahnya di kawasan semula jadi. Kawanan rusa babi yang diternak menunjukkan sedikit perubahan daripada tingkah laku liar kerana tekanan tahanan tanpa perubahan pada corak tingkah laku liar kecuali tekanan tahanan. Jantan dewasa (6), betina dewasa (6) dan anak rusa (6) dipilih dan diperhatikan sepanjang masa selama tiga puluh hari sepanjang musim selang satu jam untuk setiap aktiviti. Semua subjek menghabiskan lebih banyak masa duduk dan berehat pada waktu panas. Sementara beberapa jam pada malam hari untuk tidur, rehat dan ruminasi. Anak rusa menghabiskan lebih banyak masa duduk, berehat dan bersembunyi berbanding orang dewasa. Semasa merayau, mereka juga meluangkan masa untuk berdiri. Telah diperhatikan bahawa semua rusa babi dalam kawanan tidak tidur pada masa yang sama dengan sebilangan kecil daripada mereka tetap aktif. Hanya rusa jantan bergaduh dan kebanyakannya diperhatikan berlaku pada bulan Ogos dan September semasa musim pembiakbakaan. Rusa babi kebanyakannya krepuskul daripada segi pengambilan pemakanan dengan masa makan pendek yang tidak teratur dan merumput rumput yang terdapat di kawasan sekitar. Kajian ini memberikan garis panduan untuk memulihkan rusa babi liar untuk pengurusan pembiakbakaan, pemuliharaan dan amalan pemeliharaan yang lebih baik.

Kata kunci: Kelakuan sosial; Pakistan; peliharaan; rusa babi; variasi sirkadian

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*Corresponding author; email: irfanbaboo@gmail.com