How do giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) respond to varying properties of enrichments? A comparison of behavioral profiles among five enrichment items

This study investigated the responses of 14 giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) to 5 enrichment items (3 manipulable objects, 2 feeding devices) that possess different properties affording varying behavioral opportunities. Enrichment items were quantitatively described by using 12 properties. Pand...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of comparative psychology (1983) Vol. 119; no. 3; p. 325
Main Authors Swaisgood, Ronald R, White, Angela M, Zhou, Xiaoping, Zhang, Guiquan, Lindburg, Donald G
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.08.2005
Subjects
Animals
Behavior, Animal
Discrimination Learning
Exploratory Behavior
Feeding Behavior
Female
Male
Motivation
Psychomotor Performance
Social Environment
Ursidae - psychology
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Summary:This study investigated the responses of 14 giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) to 5 enrichment items (3 manipulable objects, 2 feeding devices) that possess different properties affording varying behavioral opportunities. Enrichment items were quantitatively described by using 12 properties. Pandas displayed no preferences among the 5 enrichment treatments, all of which had similar positive effects on behavioral measures of well-being (behavioral diversity, stereotypy). However, each item promoted a distinct behavioral profile, readily mapped onto the enrichment's properties. These results suggest that it may be important to stimulate behavioral diversity but that specific behaviors or enrichment properties are not required. The unique behavioral topography seen with these enrichments also suggests that providing multiple enrichments with varying properties will maximize overall behavioral diversity.
ISSN:0735-7036
DOI:10.1037/0735-7036.119.3.325