Comportamento de pequenos felinos neotropicais em cativeiro

Abstract

The lack of information concerning the small neotropical felids can be related to their predominant nocturnal activity, use of dense vegetation and hunting that threats natural populations. Therefore, research with captive animals may supply essential information for the development of effective conservation plans and strategies. The aim of this work was to study the behavior of small felids, with emphasis in the activity budget and patterns of behavior, and influence of the use of captive environment and odors in the change of behavior. Fourteen individuals (10 Leopardus tigrinus, 2 Leopardus wiedii, 2 Leopardus geoffroyi) were kept in the Center of Reproduction of Small Neotropical Felids, RIOZOO Zoological Park. The evaluation of the olfactory effect was carried out on eight individuals of L. tigrinus. Initially, each cage was monitored through two microcameras during 72 hours from November, 2006 to February, 2007. Each behavior and respective place of occurrence was registered every five minutes. This phase was used to establish the activity budget, behavior pattern, use of captive environment and worked as baseline for the two experimental conditions involving cinnamon (Cinnamomum sp.) and catnip (Nepeta catarina). The odors were introduced separately in each cage during three consecutive days between small trunks and alfalfa. At tree-days monitoring period followed the addition of the first odor. The three species studied showed a similar activity budget, Rest was the most frequent behavior, followed by Locomotion, Vigilance, Feeding and Maintenance. Concerning the patterns of behavior, circadian rhythms were observed for L. tigrinus with exception of Social Interation that presented ultradian rhythm. For L. geoffroyi ultradians rhythms were found for all classes of behavior. L. wiedii presented ultradian rhythm for a Locomotion (eight-hours period) and circadian rhythms for Rest, Viligilance and Maintenance. The amount of time spent in each subdivision of the cage was significantly different, confirming the idea that felids do not equally use the areas of a captive environment. "Box" was the most used place by all species, mainly for Rest. "Edge area" was used predominantly for "Pacing" with low occurrence of the other behaviors. The presence of Cinnamon did not influence the rest/activity balance, although it had a significant effect in the reduction of "Pacing" when compared with the previous phase (baseline). Significant differences were not found for catnip in the medium frequency of stereotypic pacing. However, this odor influenced the expression of natural behaviours, as exploring and marking territory. These results are discussed taking into consideration the behavioral flexibility of the species, contributing to the scientific knowledge

and providing information that will be useful in comparative studies and conservation of these species.