Abstract:
It is no longer acceptable to put animal in a cage and simply keep it alive.
Zoos have a responsibility to learn about the specific needs of each animal they
display and provide it with a suitable environment. This study monitors the daily
(short-term) behavioural repertoires of species-specific behaviour and the effects of
enrichment activities of one adult male Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinerea). It
was done from early November 2006 to early December 2006 at Underwater World
Langkawi. Before, during and after enrichment activities were recorded: (1) the daily
behaviour pattern, (2) the changing behaviour on enrichment activities and (3) the
abnormal behaviour of the otter. During daily behaviour, the otter spent the highest
percentage on stereotype behaviour approximately 24% and the lowest are eat and
forage behaviour only 3%. The number of time spent in active category has increased
from 87.83±9.09 in baseline to 133±23.3 in post-enrichment. Passive category also
increased significantly (P<0.05) where the number of behaviour for each baseline,
enrichment and post-enrichment were 89.17±17.36, 95.33±13.69 and 120.67±16.9.
Feeding behaviour increased significantly (P<0.05) during enrichment activities
51.33±14.11 compare to the both baseline 19.5±13.05 and post-enrichment
22.67± 12.86 while stereotype category were significantly decreased from
103.5±15.92 in baseline to 45.17±13.18 in enrichment and 23.67±12.68 in post
enrichment.
