Giant Panda Welfare in Captivity

Abstract

Some necessary zoo management and husbandry practices may adversely impact an individual’s welfare, thus it is critical to investigate and minimize these potential effects to the greatest extent possible. The effects of 2 such practices, nonhuman animal transportation and social housing, were examined in relation to the welfare of giant pandas (Ailuropodamelanoleuca). Farm and lab studies suggest that transportation may be stressful, but this has not been well studied in animals in the zoo even though transportation within and between institutions is a common practice. The behavioral and hormonal effects of transporting 4 giant pandas from China to the United States were examined. The findings suggest that there are variable response patterns among individuals, but there was no evidence to support long-term negative effects on welfare. Another aspect of animal management that may affect animal welfare relates to housing conditions. As a result of space limitations or sometimes in an effort to provide social enrichment or to create more interesting exhibits, individuals from solitary species are often housed socially. The behavioral and hormonal responses in 2 giant pandas to periods of brief separation from their social partners were measured. Response patterns varied across the individuals, but there was no indication that separation or reunion caused significant distress. Overall, the results suggest that these necessary zoo husbandry practices may result in short-term stress responses and that there are no long-term negative effects on welfare. The results of these studies also highlight the importance of incorporating multiple measures when assessing welfare, as well as the extent of individual differences in response to potentially stressful practices. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved). (journal abstract)