Foraging-Based Enrichment Promotes More Varied Behaviour in Captive Australian Fur Seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus)

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 10; no. 5; p. e0124615
• Main Authors: Hocking, David P., Salverson, Marcia, Evans, Alistair R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 06.05.2015; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Activity patterns; Afro-Australian fur seal; Animal behavior; Animal ecology; Animals; Animals, Zoo - physiology; Aquatic mammals; Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus; Australia; Behavior; Biological research; Enrichment; Feeding Behavior; Female; Floating; Forage; Foraging (Animal feeding behavior); Foraging behavior; Fur Seals - physiology; Marine mammals; Observations; Otariidae; Prey; Scattering; Science; Seals; Swimming; Swimming behavior; Zoos; Australia

During wild foraging, Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) encounter many different types of prey in a wide range of scenarios, yet in captive environments they are typically provided with a narrower range of opportunities to display their full repertoire of behaviours. This study...