Video Validation of Tri-Axial Accelerometer for Monitoring Zoo-Housed Activity Patterns in Response to Changes in Husbandry Conditions.

Accelerometers are a technology that is increasingly used in the evaluation of animal behaviour. A tri-axial accelerometer attached to a vest was used on individuals (n = 10) at Biodiversity Park. First, the influence of using a vest on the animals' behaviour was evaluated (ABA-type: A1 and A2, without a vest; B, with a vest; each stage lasted 24 h), and no changes were detected.

Non-Invasive Assessment of the Seasonal Stress Response to Veterinary Procedures and Transportation of Zoo-Housed Lesser Anteater ().

Management procedures affect behavioural and physiological stress responses of wild mammals under human care. According to the Reactive Scope Model, normal values are presumed to exist within predictive and reactive ranges. First, stress parameters of zoo-housed adult were evaluated in winter and summer (29 days each), determining the level of behaviour and/or physiological parameters needed to respond to predictable environmental changes.

Inhibitory action of thymol on fecal microbial activity in Tamandua tetradactyla and its effect on glucocorticoid metabolite measurement.

Faecal glucocorticoid measurement is a potentially important tool for improving wildlife conservation, but its use is still limited by methodological issues including the need to avoid modifications of steroids by faecal microorganisms during storage. The freezing of faeces is recommended as a means of avoiding such alterations, but this is costly under non-controlled environmental conditions. The present study was designed to determine whether the application of thymol reduced the proliferation of microorganisms in the faeces of Tamandua tetradactyla and whether it influenced faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) measurements.