Environmental enrichment for grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in captive environment

Abstract

Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) is one of the most popular marine mammals found in the Baltic Sea and North Atlantic. It is protected worldwide because of an important role it plays in the ecosystem along with other marine predators, also because it is an indicator. It arouses both the sympathy and aversion of the public opinion, probably caused by insufficient knowledge about this species. Due to the high adaptability, captive individuals adapt easily to the artificial environment, but this does not exempt them from the necessity of providing them with the comfort of living in closed conditions. The study concerns the design and application of environmental enrichments for grey seals living in zoos. They aim to improve the welfare of those animals which, by living in small enclosures and impoverished environment, are not able to display the full range of species behavior. Stimulation with new elements is also important in preventing aggression, apathy, and stereotypies. The proposed enrichments are easy to implement and relatively low-cost, intended for use in zoos and other organizations or institutions keeping specimens of this species. The results of the preliminary observation showed that grey seals reacted positively to some of the proposed enrichments and the time of expressing the food behavior has extended. Further issues require additional and more detailed observations.