A Preliminary Study Investigating the Impact of Musical Concerts on the Behavior of Captive Fiordland Penguins ( Eudyptes pachyrhynchus) and Collared Peccaries ( Pecari tajacu)

Abstract

Simple Summary

Understanding the effects that human environments have on captive zoo animals is key when developing management procedures that foster good captive animal health and welfare. Through analysis of behavioural time budgets of Fiordland penguins and collared peccaries (solitary- and group-housed), we found that species’ behaviours and exhibit use altered when musical concerts were held at Melbourne Zoo. Fiordland penguins increased the use of a nest and pool and spent less time preening and interacting with the habitat on concert days compared to days when there was no concert. The solitary-housed peccary rested more and used the back and front of the exhibit more on concert days compared to days where there was no concert, while four group-housed peccaries rested more and were more vigilant on concert days. There were many time points when animal location and behaviour were unknown, which were related to concert days, highlighting the importance of monitoring the whole exhibit—or at least preferred habitats—when assessing potential stressors on behaviour. It is difficult to ascertain whether observed behavioural changes were indicative of stress or behavioural flexibility that allowed animals to cope; however, this research generates hypotheses for future investigations to better manage captive Fiordland penguins and collared peccaries on event days.

Abstract

Captive animal welfare is important for establishments that exhibit species for education, conservation, and research. However, captive animals are often exposed to a number of potential stressors, such as visitors and anthropogenic noise. We aimed to identify the impact of a concert series on the behaviour of Fiordland penguins ( Eudyptes pachyrhynchus; n = 2), and solitary- ( n = 1) or group- ( n = 4)-housed collared peccaries ( Pecari tajacu). Animal behaviour, visitor density, and visitor behaviour was monitored pre-concert (afternoons; 16:00–19:00), during the concert (evenings; 19:00–21:00), and post-concert (nights; 21:00–00:00) on concert days (penguin n = 7 days; peccary n = 8 days) and in the same periods on days when there was no concert (penguin n = 8 days; peccary n = 6 days). Fiordland penguins spent more time surface swimming and diving in the pool on concert afternoons and evenings (all p < 0.001), more time in the nest on concert nights ( p < 0.001), preened less on concert afternoons and nights ( p = 0.019), and engaged with their habitat less on concert evenings and nights ( p = 0.002) compared to these periods on days without a concert. The group-housed peccaries slept more in the afternoon and evening ( p ≤ 0.01) and were more vigilant at night ( p = 0.009) on concert days compared to no-concert days. The solitary-housed peccary slept more on concert nights ( p = 0.035), rested more frequently across all time periods on concert days ( p < 0.001), and used the front of the enclosure more across all concert time periods ( p < 0.001) compared to no-concert days. We provide evidence that behaviour was altered on event days; however, we cannot determine the nature of these changes. Further research is needed to understand the impact of music concerts on zoo animal welfare.