How environmental enrichment affects behavioral and glucocorticoid responses in captive blue-and-yellow macaws (Ara ararauna)

@deCaptive animals are susceptible to chronic stress due to restricted space, lack of hiding places, presence of visitors, or the lack of resources that promote physical and mental stimuli. In birds, chronic stress can promote stereotypes, self-mutilation, feather picking, chewing on cage bars and walls, fearfulness and excessive aggression. Environmental enrichment (EE) becomes an important management tool to decrease chronic stress in captive animals. In our study, captive blue-and-yellow macaws (n = 22) kept in zoos in Brazil were exposed to EE in three experimental phases (pre-enrichment - no objects added to the cage; enrichment - physical, occupational and food items added; and post-enrichment - no objects added to the cage). Their behaviors were monitored by focal sampling and excreta were collected three times a week. Frequency of the behavior occur. rence and correlation between behavioral data and corticosterone metabolites (CM) levels in droppings were assessed. "Vocalization", "Movement" and "Resting" were the behaviors that occurred more frequently during the three phases. Abnormal behaviors showed no significant difference between phases, but "Biting itself" and "Pacing" decreased significantly from the pre-enrichment to the enrichment phase (p = 0.042 and p = 0.012, respectively), while "Standing on grid ceiling" increased significantly from pre-enrichment to enrichment phase (p = 0.002). Locomotion (p = 0.018) and movement (p = 0.003) were increased, whereas vocalization (p = 0.007), preening (p < 0.001) and feather bristling (p < 0.001) were reduced during the EE phase compared to the pre-enrichment phase. Macaws interacted more frequently with "Sunflower rolls" (24.4%), "Stuffed pinecones" (21.1%), "Dried corncobs" (17.0%) and "Egg boxes" (13.3%). Individual differences in preference for EE items were also observed. CM levels did not differ between the three phases (p = 0.798). "Locomotion" and CM levels were negatively correlated in the pre-enrichment phase (r = - 0.58; p = 0.033), suggesting that more active macaws cope better with stress. "Abnormal behaviors" were not correlated to CM levels. Our results provide evidence for the positive effects of EE on behavior and suggest that it could be used for improving the quality of life in parrots and other captive birds. @enCaptive animals are susceptible to chronic stress due to restricted space, lack of hiding places, presence of visitors, or the lack of resources that promote physical and mental stimuli. In birds, chronic stress can promote stereotypes, self-mutilation, feather picking, chewing on cage bars and walls, fearfulness and excessive aggression. Environmental enrichment (EE) becomes an important management tool to decrease chronic stress in captive animals. In our study, captive blue-and-yellow macaws (n = 22) kept in zoos in Brazil were exposed to EE in three experimental phases (pre-enrichment - no objects added to the cage; enrichment - physical, occupational and food items added; and post-enrichment - no objects added to the cage). Their behaviors were monitored by focal sampling and excreta were collected three times a week. Frequency of the behavior occur. rence and correlation between behavioral data and corticosterone metabolites (CM) levels in droppings were assessed. "Vocalization", "Movement" and "Resting" were the behaviors that occurred more frequently during the three phases. Abnormal behaviors showed no significant difference between phases, but "Biting itself" and "Pacing" decreased significantly from the pre-enrichment to the enrichment phase (p = 0.042 and p = 0.012, respectively), while "Standing on grid ceiling" increased significantly from pre-enrichment to enrichment phase (p = 0.002). Locomotion (p = 0.018) and movement (p = 0.003) were increased, whereas vocalization (p = 0.007), preening (p < 0.001) and feather bristling (p < 0.001) were reduced during the EE phase compared to the pre-enrichment phase. Macaws interacted more frequently with "Sunflower rolls" (24.4%), "Stuffed pinecones" (21.1%), "Dried corncobs" (17.0%) and "Egg boxes" (13.3%). Individual differences in preference for EE items were also observed. CM levels did not differ between the three phases (p = 0.798). "Locomotion" and CM levels were negatively correlated in the pre-enrichment phase (r = - 0.58; p = 0.033), suggesting that more active macaws cope better with stress. "Abnormal behaviors" were not correlated to CM levels. Our results provide evidence for the positive effects of EE on behavior and suggest that it could be used for improving the quality of life in parrots and other captive birds.

Univ Fed Parana
Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien
Universidade Federal do Parana