Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Primates: Scatter food throughout enclosure Two replicated, before-and-after and one before-and-after study in the USA found that scattering food throughout the enclosure increased feeding and exploratory behaviours in rhesus macaques and reduced abnormal behaviours in chimpanzees and aggression in lemurs. One before-and-after study in the USA found that when food was scattered throughout the enclosure more foraging was seen and activity levels increased in gorillas.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1315https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1315Wed, 12 Oct 2016 13:58:47 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Primates: Present food in puzzle feeders Two before-and-after studies in the USA and the UK found that the use of puzzle feeders decreased food sharing, increased foraging behaviour, and the use of tools but also aggression. One replicated, before-and-after study in the USA found that the use of puzzle feeders increased time spent feeding and less time inactive.  Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1318https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1318Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:51:50 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Amphibians: Provide particular enclosure furniture for calling sites, breeding areas or egg laying sites One replicated study in Fiji found that adding rotting logs and hollow bamboo pipes, as well as a variety of substrates to an enclosure, promoted egg laying in frogs. One before-and-after study in Austria found that captive frogs started breeding when animals were housed in enclosures with more calling, perching and laying sites, as well as simulated wet and dry seasons. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1876https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1876Fri, 19 Jan 2018 10:51:55 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Amphibians: Play recordings of breeding calls to simulate breeding season in the wild One replicated study in Australia found that frogs only bred when recorded mating calls were played, as well as manipulating the sex ratio after frogs were moved into an indoor enclosure which allowed temporary flooding and had various types of organic substrates. One replicated, before-and-after study in Australia found that clutch size of frogs increased when playing recorded mating calls, along with the sexes being separated in the non-breeding periods, providing female mate choice, and allowing females to increase in weight before breeding. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1881https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1881Fri, 19 Jan 2018 13:46:16 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Amphibians: Allow female mate choice One replicated study in Australia found that frogs only bred after females carrying eggs were introduced to males, sex ratios were manipulated, recorded mating calls were played, and after being moved to an indoor enclosure which allowed temporary flooding and had various types of organic substrates. One replicated, before-and-after study in Australia found that clutch size of frogs increased when female mate choice was provided, alongside playing recorded mating calls, sexes being separated in the non-breeding periods, and allowing females to increase in weight before breeding. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1882https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1882Fri, 19 Jan 2018 13:50:02 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Amphibians: Formulate larval diets to improve development or survival to adulthood One randomized, replicated, controlled study in the USA found that tadpoles had a higher body mass and reached a more advanced developmental stage when fed a control diet (rabbit chow and fish food) or freshwater algae, compared to those fed pine or oak pollen. Tadpoles fed only pine or oak pollen did not undergo metamorphosis. One randomised, replicated study in Portugal found that tadpoles reared on a diet containing 46% protein had higher growth rates, survival and body weights at metamorphosis compared to diets containing less protein. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1889https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1889Fri, 19 Jan 2018 14:42:14 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Amphibians: Manipulate temperature of enclosure to improve development or survival to adulthood One replicated study in Spain found that salamander larvae had higher survival rates when reared at lower temperatures. One replicated study in Germany found that the growth rate and development stage reached by harlequin toad tadpoles was faster at a higher constant temperature rather than a lower and varied water temperature. One replicated study in Australia found that frog tadpoles took longer to reach metamorphosis when reared at lower temperatures. One replicated, controlled study in Iran found that developing eggs reared within a temperature range of 12-25°C had higher survival rates, higher growth rates and lower abnormalities than those raised outside of that range. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1893https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1893Fri, 19 Jan 2018 15:02:07 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Amphibians: Use hormone treatment to induce sperm and egg releaseFor summarised evidence see Smith, R.K. and Sutherland, W.J. (2014) Amphibian conservation: Global evidence for the effects of interventions. Exeter, Pelagic Publishing.   Key messages and summaries are available here: http://www.www.conservationevidence.com/actions/883Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1896https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1896Fri, 19 Jan 2018 15:08:37 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Amphibians: Use artificial fertilization in captive breedingFor summarised evidence see Smith, R.K. and Sutherland, W.J. (2014) Amphibian conservation: Global evidence for the effects of interventions. Exeter, Pelagic Publishing.   Key messages and summaries are available here: http://www.www.conservationevidence.com/actions/834Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1897https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1897Fri, 19 Jan 2018 15:09:55 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Amphibians: Freeze sperm or eggs for future useFor summarised evidence see Smith, R.K. and Sutherland, W.J. (2014) Amphibian conservation: Global evidence for the effects of interventions. Exeter, Pelagic Publishing.   Key messages and summaries are available here: http://www.www.conservationevidence.com/actions/876Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1899https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1899Fri, 19 Jan 2018 15:11:58 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Carnivores: Feed commercially prepared diets One replicated, before-and-after study in the USA found that providing a commercial diet to maned wolves led to similar dry matter intake and digestibility despite having a lower protein content. One replicated, randomized study of African wildcats in the USA found that feeding a commercial diet decreased crude protein digestibility and increased food intake and faecal output compared to raw meat. One controlled study of African wildcats in the USA found lower organic matter digestibility compared to a ground-chicken diet. One replicated, controlled study in South Africa found that cheetahs fed a commercial diet had a similar likelihood of developing gastritis as those fed horse meat, lower levels of blood protein urea but higher levels of creatine. One study in USA found that cheetahs fed a commercial meat diet or whole chicken carcasses had plasma a-tocopherol, retinol and taurine concentrations within the ranges recommended for domestic cats. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1900https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1900Wed, 24 Jan 2018 09:26:14 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Carnivores: Feed whole carcasses (with or without organs/gastrointestinal tract) Two replicated, before-and-after studies in the USA found that feeding whole carcasses reduced pacing levels in lions, leopards, snow leopards and cougars. However, it increased pacing in tigers. One replicated, randomized, controlled study in Denmark found that when fed whole rabbit, cheetahs had lower blood protein urea, zinc and vitamin A levels compared to supplemented beef. One replicated before-and-after study in Denmark found that feeding whole rabbit showed lower levels of inflammatory bowel indicators in cheetahs. One replicated, randomized study and one controlled study in the USA found that when fed whole 1 to 3 day old chickens, ocelots had lower digestible energy and fat compared to a commercial diet and African wildcats had had lower organic matter digestibility compared to a ground-chicken diet. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1901https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1901Wed, 24 Jan 2018 09:52:15 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Carnivores: Provide bones, hides or partial carcasses One replicated, before-and-after study in the USA and one replicated, controlled study in Finland found that the provision of bones decreased the frequency of stereotypic behaviours in lions, tigers and Arctic foxes. Two replicated, before-and-after studies of felids and red foxes in the USA and Norway found that the provision of bones increased activity and manipulation time. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1902https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1902Wed, 24 Jan 2018 10:01:34 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Carnivores: Feed a plant-derived protein diet One replicated, randomized, controlled study and one replicated, controlled study in the USA found that a plant-derived protein diet increased digestible energy and dry matter digestibility but decreased mineral retention and plasma taurine levels in maned wolves compared to a (supplemented) animal-based protein diet. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1903https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1903Wed, 24 Jan 2018 10:15:58 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Carnivores: Provide food on a random temporal schedule Three replicated, before-and-after studies in Switzerland, Ireland and Canada, UK, Ireland, Namibia and South Africa and one replicated, controlled study in Ireland found that an unpredictable feeding schedule reduced the frequency of stereotypic pacing behaviours in tigers and cheetahs. One replicated, before-and-after controlled study in the USA found that an unpredictable feeding schedule increased territorial behaviour in coyotes but did not affect travelling or foraging. Two before-and-after studies in Switzerland and the USA found that an unpredictable feeding schedule increased behavioural diversity in red foxes and alertness in a black-footed cat. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1904https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1904Wed, 24 Jan 2018 10:20:46 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Carnivores: Hide food around enclosure Four replicated, before-and-after studies in the USA, UK and Germany and one before-and-after study of a black bear, leopard cats, bush dogs, maned wolves and Malayan sun bears found that hiding food increased exploring and foraging behaviours. One replicated, before-and-after study and one before-and-after study in the USA found a decrease in stereotypical pacing in leopard cats and black bear. One before-and-after study in the USA found that hiding food reduced the time Canadian lynx spent sleeping during the day. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1915https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1915Wed, 24 Jan 2018 10:47:53 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Carnivores: Scatter food around enclosure One replicated, before-and-after study in Brazil found that scattered feeding increased locomotion in maned wolves. One replicated study in Brazil found that maned wolves spent more time in the section of their enclosure with scattered food than in a section with food on a tray. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1921https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1921Wed, 24 Jan 2018 11:42:29 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Carnivores: Present food frozen in ice Two replicated, before-and-after studies in the USA found that when presented with food frozen in ice, abnormal or stereotypic behaviours decreased and activity levels increased in bears and felids. One replicated, before-and-after study in the USA found that manipulation behaviours increased in lions, whereas a replicated study in the USA found that manipulation behaviours decreased in grizzly bears. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1923https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1923Wed, 24 Jan 2018 11:51:02 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Carnivores: Present food inside objects (e.g. Boomer balls) Two before-and-after studies in Germany and India found that exploratory and foraging behaviours increased and stereotypic behaviours decreased in sloth bears and spectacled bears when presented with food inside objects. One before-and-after study in the USA found that exploring/foraging behaviours decreased in a sloth bear when presented with food inside objects. One replicated study in the USA found that grizzly bears spent a similar time manipulating food in a box and freely available food. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1924https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1924Wed, 24 Jan 2018 12:13:36 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Carnivores: Provide live vertebrate prey One before-and-after study in the USA found that hunting behaviour increased and sleeping decreased when a fishing cat was provided with live fish. One replicated, before-and-after study in the USA found that there was no change in the occurrence of stereotypical behaviours in tigers when provided with live fish. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1925https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1925Wed, 24 Jan 2018 12:15:15 +0000Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Carnivores: Provide devices to simulate live prey, including sounds, lures, pulleys and bungees Two before-and-after studies in the USA and the UK found that activity levels and behavioural diversity increased in felids when presented with a lure or pulley system. One replicated, before-and-after study in the USA found that pacing behaviour decreased and walking increased in cougars, but pacing initially increased in tigers, when provided with a carcass on a bungee. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1927https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F1927Wed, 24 Jan 2018 12:29:30 +0000
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What Works in Conservation

What Works in Conservation provides expert assessments of the effectiveness of actions, based on summarised evidence, in synopses. Subjects covered so far include amphibians, birds, mammals, forests, peatland and control of freshwater invasive species. More are in progress.

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