Behavioural patterns of Western Hoolock Gibbon Hoolock hoolock Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus and Asiatic Jackal Canis aureus at Bangladesh National Zoo

Abstract

Behavioural activities of mammals mainly have influenced by habitat types, foods, weather conditions and feeding competitions among individuals. To find out the behavioural patterns and the variation of behaviours in different time period of a day, months and seasons of Western Hoolock Gibbon Asiatic Black Bear and Asiatic Jackal in captivity, the study was conducted at Bangladesh National Zoo. A total of 1648 hours were spent to collect 6556 scans during October, 2015 and October, 2017. In a day, the captive Hoolock Gibbon spent 40.54% time in resting, 12.42% in feeding, 17.79% in moving, 5.02% in grooming, 6.84% in playing and 17.39% time in other behaviour. The adult Gibbons spent more time (40.57%) in feeding than the sub adult (31.84%) during noon and the sub adult spent more time (19.20%) in moving than the adults (14.70%) in the afternoon. The captive Gibbons were more active in summer than the other seasons. The highest allogrooming (32.29% of time spent) was recorded in afternoon. Feeding was the highest (31.50%) in May and the lowest (20.30%) in January. The time spent was the highest in resting (31.80%), moving (29.50%) and grooming (29.40%) in the month of August, April, and December, respectively. The Asiatic Black Bear spent 55.63% time in resting, 16.50% in feeding, 11.55% time in moving, 3.42% in autogrooming and 12.90% in other behaviour. The Asiatic Black Bear spent the highest amount of time (37.34%) in resting and 38.33% time in feeding in winter but the moving and grooming time were the highest in summer, 38% and 43.30%, respectively. The highest feeding (30.50%) and resting (31%) time was recorded in December. The Asiatic Black Bear spent more time in moving (30.50%) but less time in feeding (17.30%) and resting (19.30%) in May. In a day, the Asiatic Jackal spent 12.52% time in feeding, 29.29% in moving and 15.43% in resting and 42.76% time in other behaviour. They spent the highest time in resting (37.33%) and feeding (36.32%) during winter and moving (38.33%) during rainy season. The highest time investment in feeding (26.75%), resting (26.50%) and moving (26%) was recorded in January, December and August respectively. The activities were significantly varied in relation to temperature. Conservation and reintroduction program of captive animals can be enhanced through the research on the behavioural well-being of captive animals. Thus, this study can be proved fruitful for the behavioural enrichment and welfare of the captive zoo animal.