Sains Malaysiana 51(5)(2022): 1283-1291

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2022-5105-01

 

The Effect of Environmental Enrichment on Sun Bear (Herlarctos malayanus) Behaviour in Captivity

(Kesan Pengayaan Alam Sekitar terhadap Tingkah Laku Beruang Madu (Herlarctos malayanus) dalam Kurungan)

 

SITI SARAYATI ABDUL-MAWAH^1,2, Y. NORMA-RASHID² & RAMLI R.^2,*

 

¹Faculty of Applied Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sabah Branch, Kota Kinabalu Campus, 88997 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

²Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

 

Received: 23 May 2021/Accepted: 21 October 2021

 

Abstract

One of the main concerns for animals kept in captivity is expression of stereotypic behaviour which could indicate stress in the animals. To ensure the welfare of animals are adequate for conservation and to promote species specific behaviour that similar to those in the wild, most of zoos are implementing environmental enrichment. The effect of environmental enrichment on behavioural changes was studied in seven captive sun bears kept in an enclosure at Zoo Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Bear behaviours are divided into three categories: Active, passive, and abnormal behavioural. The study involved three period: baseline, enrichment, and post-enrichment period. The activity budget was recorded as a single animal scan. A total of 210 h of baseline data was collected over 36 weeks at varying times of days. Three different environment enrichment tools were used; buoy with dog food, hidden fruit mixed with honey, and gunny sack filled with cinnamon powder. They were installed in the enclosures for 10 consecutive days on a rotational basis. Both enrichment and post-enrichment observations were done for 210 h using the same methods as in baseline sampling. Baseline data showed greater passive and abnormal behaviours than active behaviour. With the introduction of the enrichment tools, the sun bears displayed decreased passive and abnormal behaviours with an increment of active behaviour. For post-enrichment period, there was no significant difference when compared with the baseline between all behavioural categories. Among three enrichment tools, hidden fruit mixed with honey was the most preferred enrichment followed by buoy filled with dog food and gunnysack with cinnamon powder. It is suggested that food-based enrichment should be lasting until evening for the sun bear to engaged longer to the enrichment. Although less preferred, cinnamon powder introduction as sensory enrichment was recommended as well. However, it is crucial to ensure that the cinnamon’s odour lasting until late evening, where the bears are ready to enter their night den. It can be concluded that the application of various enrichment tools may help to alleviate abnormal behaviour in captive bears.

 

Keywords: Environmental enrichment; sun bear; zoo behaviour

 

Abstrak

Salah satu kebimbangan bagi haiwan yang ditempatkan di dalam kurungan ialah ekspresi kelakuan stereotip yang boleh menyebabkan tekanan pada haiwan tersebut. Untuk memastikan kebajikan haiwan sesuai untuk pemuliharaan dan untuk membentuk kelakuan khusus spesies yang sama dengan haiwan di kawasan liar, kebanyakan zoo menjalankan pengayaan persekitaran. Kajian ke atas kesan pengayaan persekitaran pada perubahan kelakuan telah dijalankan ke atas tujuh ekor beruang madu yang diletak di Zoo Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Kelakuan beruang dibahagi kepada kelakuan aktif, kelakuan pasif dan kelakuan abnormal. Kajian ini melibatkan tiga tempoh; tempoh garis dasar, tempoh pengayaan dan tempoh fasa selepas pengayaan. Peruntukan aktiviti harian telah direkodkan sebagai cerapan haiwan tunggal. Sejumlah 210 jam data dasar telah dikumpul selama 36 minggu pada masa dan hari yang berbeza. Tiga peralatan pengayaan persekitaran yang berbeza telah digunakan; pelampung bola berisi makanan anjing, buah-buahan bercampur madu disembunyikan di sekitar kawasan pameran dan guni berisi serbuk kayu manis. Kesemua peralatan ini telah dimasukkan ke dalam kawasan pameran selama 10 hari berturut-turut mengikut giliran. Pemerhatian fasa selepas pengayaan dilakukan selama 210 jam menggunakan kaedah yang sama dengan persampelan dasar. Dengan pengenalan kepada peralatan pengayaan, beruang madu menunjukkan penurunan pada kelakuan pasif dan abnormal dengan kenaikan kelakuan aktif. Untuk fasa persampelan selepas pengayaan, tidak terdapat perbezaan bererti apabila dibezakan dengan fasa dasar antara semua kategori kelakuan. Antara tiga peralatan pengayaan, buah bercampur madu yang disembunyikan merupakan pengayaan yang paling diminati diikuti oleh pelampung bola berisi makanan anjing dan guni berisi serbuk kayu manis. Adalah dicadangkan agar pengayaan makanan seharusnya bertahan sehingga ke lewat petang untuk beruang madu terikat lebih lama dengan pengayaan ini. Walaupun kurang digemari, pengenalan serbuk kayu manis sebagai pengayaan deria juga dicadangkan. Walau bagaimanapun, adalah penting untuk memastikan bau kayu manis kekal sehingga lewat petang apabila beruang bersedia untuk memasuki kurungan tempat bermalam. Dapat disimpulkan bahawa aplikasi pelbagai peralatan pengayaan boleh membantu meringankan kelakuan abnormal pada beruang dalam kurungan.

 

Kata kunci: Beruang madu; kelakuan zoo; pengayaan persekitaran

 

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^*Corresponding author; email: rosliramli@um.edu.my