The influence of enclosure design on diurnal activity and stereotypic behaviour in captive Malayan Sun bears (Helarctos malayanus)

The effect of enclosure design on diurnal activity and stereotypic behaviour was assessed in 17 adult Malayan Sun bears (Helarctos malayanus), kept either in barren indoor enclosures or relatively enriched outdoor enclosures. Locomotion was the most frequent activity observed in the indoor bears, fo...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tan, H. M., Ong, S. M., Langat, G., Bahaman, Abdul Rani, Sharma, Reuben Sunil Kumar, Sugnaseelan, Sumita
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2013
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/29833/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/29833/1/The%20influence%20of%20enclosure%20design%20on%20diurnal%20activity%20and%20stereotypic%20behaviour%20in%20captive%20Malayan%20Sun%20bears.pdf
_version_ 1848846508809519104
author Tan, H. M.
Ong, S. M.
Langat, G.
Bahaman, Abdul Rani
Sharma, Reuben Sunil Kumar
Sugnaseelan, Sumita
author_facet Tan, H. M.
Ong, S. M.
Langat, G.
Bahaman, Abdul Rani
Sharma, Reuben Sunil Kumar
Sugnaseelan, Sumita
author_sort Tan, H. M.
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The effect of enclosure design on diurnal activity and stereotypic behaviour was assessed in 17 adult Malayan Sun bears (Helarctos malayanus), kept either in barren indoor enclosures or relatively enriched outdoor enclosures. Locomotion was the most frequent activity observed in the indoor bears, followed by resting. In contrast, conspecifics housed outdoors spent most of the time resting. Eleven forms of stereotypic behaviours were recorded in the bears, with pacing being the most common. The frequency and repertoire of stereotypies were significantly higher in the indoor bears irrespective of enclosure size. Novel forms of locomotor (forward-reverse pacing) and oral (allo-sucking) stereotypies were recorded. Oral stereotypies were predominant in the bears housed indoors, while patrolling was confined to the outdoor bears. Enclosure complexity significantly influences activity budget and occurrence of stereotypic behaviours, highlighting the importance of appropriate enclosure design and enrichment for the welfare of captive bears.
first_indexed 2025-11-15T09:03:50Z
format Article
id upm-29833
institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
institution_category Local University
language English
last_indexed 2025-11-15T09:03:50Z
publishDate 2013
publisher Elsevier
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling upm-298332015-12-29T02:46:25Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/29833/ The influence of enclosure design on diurnal activity and stereotypic behaviour in captive Malayan Sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) Tan, H. M. Ong, S. M. Langat, G. Bahaman, Abdul Rani Sharma, Reuben Sunil Kumar Sugnaseelan, Sumita The effect of enclosure design on diurnal activity and stereotypic behaviour was assessed in 17 adult Malayan Sun bears (Helarctos malayanus), kept either in barren indoor enclosures or relatively enriched outdoor enclosures. Locomotion was the most frequent activity observed in the indoor bears, followed by resting. In contrast, conspecifics housed outdoors spent most of the time resting. Eleven forms of stereotypic behaviours were recorded in the bears, with pacing being the most common. The frequency and repertoire of stereotypies were significantly higher in the indoor bears irrespective of enclosure size. Novel forms of locomotor (forward-reverse pacing) and oral (allo-sucking) stereotypies were recorded. Oral stereotypies were predominant in the bears housed indoors, while patrolling was confined to the outdoor bears. Enclosure complexity significantly influences activity budget and occurrence of stereotypic behaviours, highlighting the importance of appropriate enclosure design and enrichment for the welfare of captive bears. Elsevier 2013-04 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/29833/1/The%20influence%20of%20enclosure%20design%20on%20diurnal%20activity%20and%20stereotypic%20behaviour%20in%20captive%20Malayan%20Sun%20bears.pdf Tan, H. M. and Ong, S. M. and Langat, G. and Bahaman, Abdul Rani and Sharma, Reuben Sunil Kumar and Sugnaseelan, Sumita (2013) The influence of enclosure design on diurnal activity and stereotypic behaviour in captive Malayan Sun bears (Helarctos malayanus). Research in Veterinary Science, 94 (2). pp. 228-239. ISSN 0034-5288; ESSN: 1532-2661 10.1016/j.rvsc.2012.09.024
spellingShingle Tan, H. M.
Ong, S. M.
Langat, G.
Bahaman, Abdul Rani
Sharma, Reuben Sunil Kumar
Sugnaseelan, Sumita
The influence of enclosure design on diurnal activity and stereotypic behaviour in captive Malayan Sun bears (Helarctos malayanus)
title The influence of enclosure design on diurnal activity and stereotypic behaviour in captive Malayan Sun bears (Helarctos malayanus)
title_full The influence of enclosure design on diurnal activity and stereotypic behaviour in captive Malayan Sun bears (Helarctos malayanus)
title_fullStr The influence of enclosure design on diurnal activity and stereotypic behaviour in captive Malayan Sun bears (Helarctos malayanus)
title_full_unstemmed The influence of enclosure design on diurnal activity and stereotypic behaviour in captive Malayan Sun bears (Helarctos malayanus)
title_short The influence of enclosure design on diurnal activity and stereotypic behaviour in captive Malayan Sun bears (Helarctos malayanus)
title_sort influence of enclosure design on diurnal activity and stereotypic behaviour in captive malayan sun bears (helarctos malayanus)
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/29833/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/29833/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/29833/1/The%20influence%20of%20enclosure%20design%20on%20diurnal%20activity%20and%20stereotypic%20behaviour%20in%20captive%20Malayan%20Sun%20bears.pdf