Date of Award

2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Cook, Peter

Area of Concentration

Biological Psychology

Abstract

Captive big cats - defined here as Panthera Leo (Lions), Panthera Tigris (Tigers), Panthera pardus (Leopards), Puma Concolor (Cougars), Acinonyx jubatus (Cheetahs), and Panthera Onca (Jaguars) - are understudied in the enrichment literature. This raises concerns about the number of big cats in captivity in the United States and the conditions they are housed in. Enrichment of big cats needs to be further understood in order to provide better captive care to big cats held in zoos and wildlife rehabilitation centers. Enrichment practices can also be used in breed-and-release programs to increase the survivability of endangered species, such as Panthera Tigris (Tigers). The following thesis reviews the literature on enrichment and big cats in captivity, proposes a novel study to assess big cat enrichment in the United States, and additionally proposes a modern framework for big cat enrichment guidelines that builds from the Five Freedoms theoretical framework. Properly implemented enrichment is one of the primary instruments used by animal caretakers that can directly influence the welfare of the animals in their care. The proposed enrichment guidelines are oriented around monitoring and improving the overall welfare of these animals in captivity.

Download

Share

COinS