Effects of a modern exhibit design on captive tiger welfare.

Offering captive animals larger, more complex spaces are thought to benefit their welfare. To this end, some zoos use trail systems linked to several enclosures. Since little is known about the effects of such designs on the welfare of captive carnivores specifically, we timed the behaviors exhibited by four tigers (Panthera tigris [Linnaeus]) given access to three exhibit configurations: one exhibit only (E, baseline); one exhibit and approximately 19 m2 of trail (ET); and two exhibits connected by approximately 46 m2 of trail (E2T). Behaviors were recorded during 1-h AM, Noon, and PM periods in Phase I (2017), and 2-h AM and PM periods in Phase II (2018). Percentages of behavior occurrence were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models (GLMM), with treatment and time of day as fixed effects. Tigers were least active at noon (Phase I), while active behaviors were prevalent during mornings and afternoons in both Phases. In Phase II (E2T vs. E), active and exploratory behaviors such as sniffing increased, while pacing and inactivity decreased (all p ≤ .001). We also examined nocturnal tiger movement using infrared motion-activated cameras. In parallel with diurnal observations, tiger activity in E2T greatly exceeded that in E. Nocturnal movement was most pronounced from 1800 to 2200 and least frequent from 0100 to 0400, closely matching patterns observed in the wild. Results indicate that offering tigers voluntary access to larger and more complex spaces stimulates natural behaviors and decreases stereotypical behaviors.

Bridging the Research Gap between Live Collections in Zoos and Preserved Collections in Natural History Museums.

Zoos and natural history museums are both collections-based institutions with important missions in biodiversity research and education. Animals in zoos are a repository and living record of the world's biodiversity, whereas natural history museums are a permanent historical record of snapshots of biodiversity in time. Surprisingly, despite significant overlap in institutional missions, formal partnerships between these institution types are infrequent. Life history information, pedigrees, and medical records maintained at zoos should be seen as complementary to historical records of morphology, genetics, and distribution kept at museums. Through examining both institution types, we synthesize the benefits and challenges of cross-institutional exchanges and propose actions to increase the dialog between zoos and museums. With a growing recognition of the importance of collections to the advancement of scientific research and discovery, a transformational impact could be made with long-term investments in connecting the institutions that are caretakers of living and preserved animals.