Presented at TN Academy of Sciences poster presentation, Memphis, TN 2012. 1st place in poster competition

1. Analysis of behaviors and spatial preferences in captive snow leopards (Uncia uncia)
Kimber Jones, Sarah Boyle, and Andy Kouba
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sarah Boyle
Rhodes College and Memphis Zoo
Introduction Results Results
•Captive breeding attempts are necessary to maintain the population size and •The amount of time the leopards spent socializing with one another (8.57% ± 2.86
genetic viability of endangered snow leopards1. SE) was greater than amount of time dedicated to self-interaction by either leopard
•Captive snow leopards are not stressed by hunger, disease, or competition; (Ateri (♀): 0.83% ± 0.21 SE; Darhan(♂): 1.2% ± 0.27 SE).
however, boredom and small enclosure size can lead to stereotypies-- repetitive, •A total of 184 boughts of play fights between the leopards were observed; all fights
apparently pointless behaviors such as pacing2. except one lasted less than two minutes.
•Although snow leopards were originally classified as a completely solitary species, •Breeding behaviors were observed on nine different instances, each with the male
recent studies suggest that leopards form pair bonds before breeding in the wild to instigating and lasting less than two minutes.
increase fitness3.
•Thus, housing leopards in pairs may be a form of environmental enrichment4. In
captivity, pair bonds have been correlated to more successful breeding attempts3. Discussion
•Both leopards spent a smaller percentage of time resting than expected2. This could
•The pair of snow leopards at the Memphis Zoo is too young to breed, but social
be attributed to the young age of the leopards and newness to the Memphis Zoo. In
housing could increase their probability of successful breeding attempts in the future
the future, it is predicted that the pair will spend more time resting together 3.
and reduce stereotypic behaviors.
Figure 1: Activity budget for each leopard based on behavioral ethogram (Table 1) ± SE •Both leopards exhibited high levels of locomotor behaviors but much lower levels of
stereotypy than expected, which is also possibly due to their age. Male leopards who
Methods • The leopards spent the greatest proportions of time exhibiting resting (R), alert (A),
locomotor (L), and social (SC) behaviors for a total of 91.14% of observation time for Ateri
are unsuccessful in their breeding attempts are more likely to pace and exhibit
1) The leopards studied were a female, Ateri, who is approximately 1.5 years old, stereotypic behaviors3. Although Darhan (♂) exhibited breeding behaviors, data from
(female) and 91.54% for Darhan (male):
and a male, Darhan, who is 2.75 years old. Both leopards are housed together in Willis et al. (unpublished) suggest that he is not yet sexually mature.
R: Ateri- 9.44% ± 1.86 SE, Darhan- 12.58% ± 2.15 SE
Cat Country at the Memphis Zoo. A: Ateri- 52.50% ± 2.63 SE, Darhan- 55.43% ± 3.14 SE •In the wild, pair bonds can increase fitness2. If the leopards at the Memphis Zoo have
2) Behavioral observations for both leopards were recorded Sep-Nov 2011 at 2- L : Ateri- 20.63% ± 1.90 SE, Darhan- 14.96% ± 1.83 SE formed a pair bond, it could be the cause of infrequent stereotypies and aid in the
min intervals using the scan sampling method in accordance with behavior SC: 8.57% ± 2.86 SE success of future reproduction3. Social housing should be considered as a practical
ethogram (Table 1). At the same 2-min intervals, location data were recorded for option for managing captive leopards.
both leopards on an exhibit map (Map 1). • Ateri spent the least amount of time exhibiting stereotypic behaviors (0.48% ±0.32 SE) •In the future, this study could increase sample size and observe leopards during the
4) Data were collected 3-4 times per week in 2-h increments for a total of 50.5 breeding season (Feb-May) both before and after sexual maturity.
observations hours for each leopard.
5) Activity budgets were calculated for each leopard every day based on the
proportion of time spent exhibiting each behavior category for each cat. Time the
leopards spent out of view was removed from the analysis.
References
1
Brown J, Wasser S, Wildt D, Graham L. Comparative Aspects of Steroid Hormone Metabolism and Ovarian
_____Activity in Felids, Measured Noninvasively in Feces. Biology of Reproduction. 1994;51:776-786.
6) ArcGIS 9.3 was used to create a map of the leopard enclosure, location data 2
Macri, AM and Patterson-Kane, E. Behavioural analysis of solitary versus socially housed snow leopards
were plotted, and density maps were formed to indicate areas where the _____(Panthera uncia), with the provision of simulated social contact. Applied Animal Behavior Science.
leopards spent the most time. _____2011;130:115-123.
3
Freeman, H. Behavior in Adult Pairs of Captive Snow Leopards (Panthera uncia). Zoo Biology. 1983;2:1-22.
4
Price, EE and Stoinski, TS. Group Size: Determinants in the wild and implications for the captive housing of
Behavior Type Description _____wild mammals in zoos. Applied Animal Behavior Science. 2007;103:255-264.
Map 1: Snow leopard exhibit in Cat Country with Map 2: Exhibit with location data for each leopard,
Resting The cat is sedentary and not alert enclosure elements N = 1,334 points (male) and N = 1,333 points (female)
i.e., Sleeping, lying down, resting, yawn, stretch
Alert The cat responds to a stimulus using its senses of sight and hearing Acknowledgements
i.e., Sitting alert, standing alert, lying alert, flehmen We would like to thank Dr. Erin Willis for her support in the reproductive physiology research of the male leopard,
Stereotypic Walking in a fixed pattern for at least three repetitions with no apparent purpose or Darhan, the Memphis Zoo Research and Conservation Lab team for their guidance, the Memphis Zoological Society for
generous use of its facilities, the Cat Country zoo keepers for information about the leopards, Rhodes College for
variation
financial support, and Adam Alsamadisi for his GIS expertise.
Social The cats interact with one another
i.e., Play, groom, lay together, pounce, stalk, fight
Locomotor The cat moves from one place to another
i.e., Walk, trot, run, object rear, roll, jump, climb
Exhibit Interaction The cat interacting with an aspect of the exhibit through investigation or play
i.e., Sniff, object rub, scratch, scent mark, eat, drink, urinate, defecate
Self-Interaction The cat grooms or plays with itself without interacting with the other cat
Other The cat displays a behavior that is not listed in any of the above categories
Map 3: Density gradient based on proportion of time Map 4: Density gradient based on proportion of time
Table 1: Ethogram of observed snow leopard behaviors grouped into categories spent in area for female leopard, Ateri spent in area for male leopard, Darhan