Rabin, L. A. 2003. Maintaining behavioural diversity in captivity for conservation: Natural behaviour management. Animal Welfare 12, 85-94.

We can view behaviour from the environmental enrichment standpoint, with our primary goal being to minimize maladaptive behaviour and increase welfare. Alternatively, we can view behaviour form the standpoint of natural behaviour management, attempting to preserve all components [including predation behavior and antipredator behaviour] of a species' behavioural repertoires in appropriate contexts. If our goal is to reduce maladaptive behaviour, then enrichment program need not be concerned with promoting natural patters of behaviour. Once stereotypies or maladaptive behaviours such as hair-pulling have been reduced, enrichment will be viewed as having been a success. However, I hope I have argued convincingly that behavioural programs should set their standards much higher in order to promote education, captive behavioural research, and possibility for eventual reintroduction.

Year
2003