圈养雄性成年棕熊越冬行为的观察

本文采用扫描取样法和随意取样法，对饲养条件下两头雄性成年棕熊的越冬行为和活动节律等进行了观察。结果表明活动和摄食行为主要集中于早３：００～２０：５５，在此期间主要行为是休息（７９．１％）和活动（１２．５％）。卧睡是休息的主要类型，站立是活动的主要类型，而卧吃又是摄食的主要类型。活动节律有三个频率高峰（４１．７、３４．７、３４．０），摄食节律也有三个高峰（３４．０、２５．８、１８．１）。两种节律有明显的相关性。给食是激起活动和摄食的主要因子。凡种主要行为相互间隔出现。     

丰容对上海动物园棕熊(Ursus arctos)行为的影响

从环境丰容、食物丰容、感知丰容、认知丰容4个方面,对上海动物园饲养的4头棕熊丰容前后的行为进行观察,记录棕熊对不同丰容项目的反映及效果。结果表明:棕熊对假山、栖架、水池、食物多样性、藏匿食物等很感兴趣,对绿化、地面铺垫物一般感兴趣,对其他熊类和动物的粪便、气味、交换场地害怕谨慎。丰容前,白天棕熊以运动、玩耍、休息和乞食行为为主;丰容后,虽然不能完全杜绝乞食行为,但是有效降低了棕熊的刻板行为和乞食行为,运动、玩耍行为发生的频次增加。     

丰容对圈养小熊猫行为的影响

以杭州动物园小熊猫馆圈养展出的4只小熊猫为研究对象,对该处小熊猫笼舍进行丰容,包括外活动场搭建绳梯、内室增加竹制高栖架、增加镂空漏食网格球和竹筒取食器等,观察该笼舍内4只小熊猫昼间的行为变化,发现活跃行为显著增加,安静行为显著减少.丰容后动物表现出更多的走动、玩耍、探究行为,睡觉行为显著减少.将4只小熊猫按年龄分为老龄...     

环境丰容对圈养亚洲象行为的影响

南京市红山森林动物园现饲养2头亚洲象,在圈养条件下,发现其表现出原地站立不停点头、晃动身体、踱步等异常行为。本文拟通过环境丰容来尽可能地展示其自然行为,减少异常行为的发生。在丰容前后采取扫描取样法进行观察记录,结果表明:环境丰容后,亚洲象的玩耍行为明显增加,异常行为的发生大大减少。     

食物丰容对圈养猩猩行为的影响研究

试验以重庆动物园饲养的3只婆罗洲猩猩为研究对象,观察食物丰容对猩猩行为的影响。结果:(1)食物丰容使成年雄性猩猩的休息、玩耍、刻板行为占比分别下降8.34、1.05、5.21个百分点,休息、刻板行为下降幅度分别为30%、23%,玩耍行为变化不大;摄食、运动、探索、好奇行为占比分别上升1.04、8.33、5.21、1.04个百分点,运动行为增加幅度为53%,探索行为由无到有增加到5%,而摄食行为和好奇行为变化不大。(2)雄性亚成年猩猩的休息、运动、好奇、社群、刻板行为占比分别下降3.12、3.13、2.09、5.20、3.12个百分点,刻板行为下降幅度为37%;摄食、玩耍、探索行为占比分别上升2.08、6.25、9.37个百分点,其中探索行为增加幅度达225%。(3)雌性亚成年猩猩的休息、运动、社群、刻板行为占比分别下降2.08、4.16、5.20、3.13个百分点,刻板行为下降幅度为30%;摄食、玩耍、探索、好奇行为占比分别上升4.17、5.21、5.21、1.05个百分点,其中探索行为增加幅度为250%。结论:食物丰容恢复了圈养猩猩的多种野外自然行为,可减少刻板行为的发生,增加摄食、玩耍、探索、好奇行为,有利于圈养猩猩的身心健康。     

丰容对圈养华南虎行为影响的初探

从2011年12月到2012年4月,应用全事件取样法和目标动物取样法对南昌动物园2只处于育龄期的华南虎进行了丰容前后的行为观察,对丰容前后行为发生的时间分配、行为比例进行了研究比较。结果显示：丰容前主要出现踱步行为（刻板行为）,休息行为和摄食行为（摄食行为的发生受人为控制）等行为,丰容后行为谱明显丰富,行为种类增多,玩耍行为,社会行为占据整个行为谱的时间比重加大,丰容前后行为存在显著的差异。研究结构表明可以通过丰容来改变华南虎的行为节律,从而减少其刻板行为,增加了社会行为,对提高动物繁殖的成功率可能起到一定作用。     

丰容对圈养野生动物刻板行为的影响

通过介绍圈养野生动物刻板行为的表现特点、影响因素,来阐述丰容在野生动物刻板行为中所起的作用,进一步为提高野生动物饲养管理水平和野生动物福利提供理论依据。     

环境丰容对单独圈养黑猩猩行为影响的研究

对广州动物园科研中心的2只单独圈养的黑猩猩进行环境丰容,采取焦点观察法和连续记录法,记录2只黑猩猩丰容前后的各行为持续时间。结果表明,环境丰容对2只单独圈养黑猩猩的行为产生影响,雌性黑猩猩积极行为显著增加,刻板行为和一般行为显著降低,而雄性黑猩猩的探究和进食行为明显提高。     

丰容对福州动物园圈养攀禽行为的影响

为了探究丰容对圈养攀禽行为的影响,对福州动物园饲养的2只红绿金刚鹦鹉、2只琉璃金刚鹦鹉、2只双角犀鸟、1只冠斑犀鸟等4种大型攀禽进行笼舍内增添栖架、树木及软梯,玩具、竹筒饲喂器等丰容试验。采用扫描取样法和瞬时记录法记录了笼舍丰容前后各种行为出现频次。结果表明:笼舍丰容后,攀禽的休息和异常行为减少,采食、运动、社会等行为增多(P0.01或P0.05)。对圈养攀禽所处的物理环境进行修饰,可以使其表达更多的自然行为,是提高动物福利水平的一种重要方法。     

Humeral Chondrosarcoma in a Hokkaido Brown Bear (Ursus arctos yesoensis)

Humeral chondrosarcoma was found in an 18-year-old male Hokkaido brown bear (Ursus arctos yesoensis). Necropsy revealed a large firm mass under the left superficial pectoral muscle at the axillary region. The mass involved the left shoulder joint and peripheral muscles, and connected to the head of the humerus with osteolysis. Histopathologically, the mass was composed of irregularly shaped myxomatous to cartilaginous tumor lobules. The tumor cell showed moderate nuclear atypia with a relatively high mitotic index, especially in the edges of the myxomatous lobules. The tumor cells were positively immunostained with vimentin and S-100 protein. Based on these findings, the tumors were diagnosed as chondrosarcoma. Metastases were found in the left axillary lymph node, lungs, liver and kidney.     

Brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos) femoral head and neck excision.

A 30-yr-old untamed European female brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos) with a craniodorsal luxation of the right femoral head and bilateral degenerative joint disease of the coxofemoral joint had a femoral head and neck excision following unsatisfactory conservative medical therapy. The bear was injected with zolazepam-tiletamine, and anesthesia was induced with i.v. thiopental and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen via endotracheal tube. A lumbosacral epidural injection of medetomidine-bupivacaine provided additional analgesia. Slight initial cardiorespiratory depression was counteracted with fluid and inotropic drug administration and ventilatory assistance. The bear's gluteal muscle anatomy differs from that of the dog. Recovery was uneventful. The bear was confined indoors for 6 wk and was able to ambulate normally within 6 mo.     

Femoral Fracture Repair Using a Locking Plate Technique in an Adult Captive Polar Bear (Ursus Maritimus)

Objective— To report successful femoral fracture repair in a polar bear. Study Design— Case report. Animals— Female polar bear (Ursus maritimus) 5 years and ～250 kg. Methods— A closed, complete, comminuted fracture of the distal midshaft femur was successfully reduced and stabilized using a compression plating technique with 2 specialized human femur plates offering axial, rotational, and bending support, and allowing the bone to share loads with the implant. Postoperative radiographs were obtained at 11.5 weeks, 11 months, and 24 months. Results— Bone healing characterized by marked periosteal reaction was evident at 11 months with extensive remodeling evident at 24 months. No complications were noted. Conclusions— Distal mid shaft femoral fracture was reduced, stabilized, and healed in an adult polar bear with a locking plate technique using 2 plates. Clinical Relevance— Previously, femoral fractures in polar bears were considered irreparable. Use of 2 plates applied with a locking plate technique can result in successful fracture repair despite large body weight and inability to restrict postoperative activity.     

棕熊精子体外获能及异种穿卵的超微结构研究

对棕熊精子体外获能前后和异种穿卵的超微结构观察表明,棕熊精子全长77μm,由头、颈和尾3部分组成.头部长7.3μm,宽2.5μm,主要由核、顶体及顶体后区组成;颈部由中心粒和9条纵行分节的节往组成;尾部全长68.2μm,其中中段长13.2μm,线粒体为65～68旋,主段中央为“9 2”的微管结构,其外方被9条致密纤维和纤维鞘包裹.精子获能前群集成簇,运动缓慢;获能后精子呈超激活运动.获能的精子质膜膨胀,顶体外膜囊泡化,引起顶体反应,质膜并未参加囊泡化.顶体反应完成后,仅有顶体内膜包在精子核膜的外面.棕熊精子与仓鼠的卵相互作用,多以赤道段和顶体后区附着于卵膜.     

Effect of the change of social environment on the behavior of a captive brown bear (Ursus arctos)

We observed the behavior of a captive sterilized male brown bear before and after the death of his female sibling to investigate the effect of the change of social environment on his behavior and welfare. Observations were carried out by continuous recording during daylight for 6 wk prior to hibernation when the bear was kept with the sibling, and they were repeated 2 years later when the bear was alone (total observation time is 108 h). Feeding, moving, and the total amount of time spent resting (including sleeping and alert inactive) were not affected by the change of social environment. However, when the bear was alone, the percentage of time he spent alert inactive almost trebled (pair, 17.7 ± 3.3%; alone, 48.5 ± 5.5%; P < 0.001), and the time spent sleeping was less than one-third (pair, 51.1 ± 6.1%; alone, 14.2 ± 5.0%; P < 0.001) than when the female was present. The bear spent most of his sleeping time in lateral lying posture (a posture probably associated with rapid eyes movement sleep). The percentage of time dedicated to this posture was significantly reduced after the death of his sibling (pair, 35.9 ± 7.4%; alone, 15.0 ± 5.4%; P < 0.05), whereas the percentage of time spent in quadrupedal posture increased (pair, 17.1 ± 5.4%; alone, 37.8 ± 7.8; P < 0.05). One of the possible reasons for these changes may be an increased risk perception of the bear after the death of his sibling. Our results highlight the importance of social environment and of its changes, which should be carefully considered to maintain captive bears in good welfare conditions.     

Spinal spondylosis and acute intervertebral disc prolapse in a European brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos)

A 22-year-old male European brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos) was presented to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital after an acute onset of hind limb paralysis 4 days earlier. Previous radiographs revealed marked degenerative joint disease of the stifles, tarsi and digits. The clinical findings were consistent with acute disc prolapse. Lateral radiographs of the entire vertebral column were made as well as ventrodorsal pelvic radiographs. The latter were within normal limits. The vertebral column revealed multiple lesions consistent with chronic and acute disc herniations. Lateral compression of the caudal lumbar nerve roots could not be ruled out. Owing to multiple significant findings of the vertebral column and the poor prognosis for full recovery after surgery, the bear was euthanased. The diagnosis of an acute disc prolapse and multiple chronic disc herniations was confirmed on necropsy.     

In vitro maturation of oocytes derived from the brown bear (Ursus arctos)

This study was conducted to determine whether meiotic maturation could be induced in ovarian oocytes from the American brown bear (Ursus arctos), a model for gamete "rescue" techniques for endangered ursids. The bears were euthanized, and their ovaries were transported to the laboratory within 4 h. The mean ovarian size was 2.4 x 1.8 cm (range: 2.0-3.3 x 1.5-2.2 cm). The ovaries obtained from the 2 brown bears yielded 97 oocytes (48.5/female), and 88 (90.7%) of them were morphologically classified as normal quality. Oocytes were in vitro matured at 38.5 C in 5% CO2 for 24 or 48 h in TCM-199 supplemented with 10% FBS, 1 microg/ml estradiol-17beta, and 10 microg/ml FSH. In Exp. 1, morphologic evaluation of matured oocytes was conducted by measuring the diameters of oocytes with a zona pellucida (ZP) or cytoplasm without a ZP. In Exp. 2, activation was induced by applying two 20 microsec DC pulses of 2.0 kV/cm delivered by an Electro Cell Fusion Generator. The activated oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 containing 2 mM of 6-dimethylaminopurine for 4 h, in Charles Rosenkrans (CR) 1 for 3 days and the in CR2 for another 4 days. The diameters of the matured bear oocytes with a ZP and with cytoplasm without a ZP (161.8 +/- 6.0 and 135.3 +/- 7.5 microm, respectively) were significantly (P<0.05) larger than those of bovine oocytes (150.7 +/- 4.9 and 118.7 +/- 7.5 microm). The maturation rates of the bear oocytes were 17.6 and 59.4% at 24 and 48 h of in vitro maturation, the percentage of activated oocytes that developed to the 2 or 4-cell stage was 31.6%; however, no blastocysts were observed. These results indicate that bear oocytes can develop to metaphase II in an in vitro culture system and that activated oocytes can develop to the 2 or 4-cell stages.     

A retrospective study of dental conditions of captive brown bears (Ursus arctos spp.) compared with free-ranging Alaskan grizzlies (Ursus arctos horribilis).

The teeth of 63 skulls of brown bears (Ursus arctos spp.) that had lived in the Bernese bear pit between 1850 and 1995 were examined and radiographed for occlusion, loss of teeth, calcified dental plaque and calculus, attrition, and caries. Dental pathology and periodontal status were evaluated with respect to age and location in the dentition. Further techniques such as computed tomography, microhardness testing, histologic sectioning, and scanning electron microscopy were used in selected cases to verify the macroscopic and radiographic diagnoses. Fourteen skulls originating from free-ranging wild Alaskan brown bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) were examined as a control group. For zoo bears over 10 yr old, severe enamel and dentinal attrition has been observed in canine teeth, with exposed pulp and proximal lesions in molar teeth. Deposits of calcified dental calculus were found in various locations and increased with age. A much lower degree of calculus deposition was found in the Alaskan grizzlies, whose average caries frequency was higher but with large individual variation and different locations in canine teeth and occlusal lesions in molar and premolar teeth. Radiographic evaluation of perialveolar osteolytic processes revealed a greater frequency of apical and combined apical-marginal lesions of the alveoli in zoo bears over 10 yr old. Stereotypical behavior like cage chewing is a suspected cause of canine tooth and secondary alveolar lesions, whereas a nutritionally inappropriate diet and inadequate opportunities for tooth-cleaning activities are responsible for the lack of natural cleaning and the extensive calculus formation that results. The methods used in this study are useful in assessing and comparing the dental health status of free-ranging bears, and those living in zoological gardens, by evaluating anesthetized bears or bear skull collections representing both groups.