Feeding enrichment and behavioural changes in Canadian lynx Lynx canadensis at Louisville Zoo
-
Published source details
Gilkison J.J., White B.C. & Taylor S. (1997) Feeding enrichment and behavioural changes in Canadian lynx Lynx canadensis at Louisville Zoo. International Zoo Yearbook, 35, 213-216.
Published source details Gilkison J.J., White B.C. & Taylor S. (1997) Feeding enrichment and behavioural changes in Canadian lynx Lynx canadensis at Louisville Zoo. International Zoo Yearbook, 35, 213-216.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
| Action | Category | |
|---|---|---|
|
Carnivores: Hide food around enclosure Action Link |
 |
-
Carnivores: Hide food around enclosure
A small before-and-after study in 1995 of Canadian lynx Lynx canadensis in the USA found that hiding food around the enclosure reduced the time spent sleeping compared to when food was not hidden. The male lynx and first female lynx showed a reduction in time spent sleeping (1.1%) when food was hidden around the enclosure compared to when food was not hidden (30%). Before the study, the lynxes were fed each morning (processed feline meat, supplemented with dead day-old chicks, trout and mice). During the treatment phase, processed meat was fed each morning and dead prey items were hidden within the enclosure. Food was hidden daily for 17 days and hidden for two to three days a week for 10 days. Video recordings were taken and continuous sampling was used for four 30-minute sessions per day during public opening times. There were two study periods 26-months apart, only the first period showed significant results but this may have been due to the death of the original female lynx.
)_2023.JPG)
