Document type: scientific article published in ZooBiology
Authors: Angelakopoulos, K., and A. Jolivald
Abstract in French (translation): Ready to pounce: Engagement in a positive-reinforcement training program as a valid and reliable indicator of the well-being of captive big cats
Engagement in positive-reinforcement training is a non-invasive, easy-to-record, and valid indicator of well-being in captive bottlenose dolphins. However, despite the widespread use of training programs for mammals housed in accredited zoos, this indicator has not yet been explored as a measure of well-being in other species. Thus, this pilot study aimed to determine whether engagement in training is a reliable and valid indicator of well-being in big cats housed in zoos.
Using Likert scales, two observers assessed the “willingness to participate,” “approach toward the trainer,” and “concentration” of three felids housed at the Attica Zoological Park (Greece) during 34 training sessions. After each session, behavioral richness and the frequency of behaviors indicative of positive and negative emotional states were determined based on 2 hours of instantaneous focal behavioral observations. Intraclass correlations showed excellent agreement between the scores assigned by the two observers regarding “willingness to participate,” “approach,” and “concentration” during the sessions (all ICCs ≥ 0.9). The three facets of engagement in training were strongly interrelated (Spearman’s correlations, all r ≥ 0.5, all p ≤ 0.01). Furthermore, “willingness to participate” and “concentration” were significantly and positively associated, respectively, with the frequency of behaviors indicative of a positive emotional state (GLMM: p ≤ 0.001) and with behavioral richness (GLMM: p = 0.013).
The strength of these associations within our small sample suggests that further research, conducted on a larger sample of felids and facilities, is needed to investigate engagement in training as a promising, valid, and reliable indicator of positive well-being in zoo-housed felids.
Preview:
Engagement with positive reinforcement training is a non-invasive, easily recorded, and valid indicator of welfare in captive bottlenose dolphins. However, despite the ubiquitousness of training programs in zoo-housed mammals in accredited zoos, this metric has yet to be explored as a welfare indicator in other species. Thus, this pilot study aimed to determine whether engagement with training is a reliable and valid welfare indicator in zoo-housed felids.
Using Likert scales, two observers scored the Willingness to Participate, Approach to the trainer, and Focus of three felids housed at Attica Zoological Park (Greece) during 34 training sessions. After each session, behavioral richness and the frequency of expression of behaviors indicative of positive and negative affective states were derived from 2 h of instantaneous focal behavioral observations. Intraclass correlations showed excellent agreement in the two observers’ scores for Willingness to Participate, Approach, and Focus during the sessions (all ICC ≥ 0.9). The three facets of engagement with training were strongly interrelated (Spearman correlations, all r ≥ 0.5, all p ≤ 0.01). Further, Willingness to Participate and Focus were significantly positively associated with the frequency of expression of behaviors indicative of a positive affective state (GLMM: p ≤ 0.001) and behavioral richness (GLMM: p = 0.013), respectively.
The strength of those associations in our small sample suggests that further research in a larger sample of felids and institutions is warranted to investigate engagement with training as a promising, valid, and reliable positive welfare indicator in zoo-housed felids.
