Abstract

RUIZ RAMOS, Elisa Diana  and  DIAZ CARRILLO, Edward Iván. Environmental enrichment of marine otter Lontra felina (Molina 1782) at Huachipa Zoo from february to march 2007. Ecol. apl. [online]. 2008, vol.7, n.1-2, pp.49-54. ISSN 1726-2216.

Environmental enrichment is a tool for the improvement of boredom and stress situations. Therefore it is used as prevention for diseases caused by the inactivity of wild animals in captivity. This work was developed with 2 captive marine otter Lontra felina (Molina 1782) individuals, during five weeks: in the first one, behavioural patterns were determined by an Ad libitum sampling and during the next four weeks environmental enrichment were made, making ethological evaluations with Scan samplings (minute by minute) on both individuals. A total of 14 activities were registered for both individuals, but, after the second week, 2 new sub activities were registered: ¨dolphin-like swimming¨ and ¨rotational diving¨. Due to enrichment, positive results were obtained in the 12 applied activities. Shannon-Weaver index was estimated for each individual weekly, recording an increase for both, until week 4, in which both decreased. This decrease is explained by the variations on the times of certain activities for both individuals, such as a decrease of more than 23% in individual games, compensated by an increase of almost 11% in companion games and more than 9% in games with the public. In conclusion, a positive change was evident, as both individuals showed a major interaction between them and with the public. This should aid in the future inclusion of these enrichment activities in the Environmental Education Program at Huachipa Zoo.

Keywords : environmental enrichment; marine otter Lontra felina; ethological evaluation; Ad libitum; Scan sampling; Shannon-Weaver Index.

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