Behavioral analysis and effect of environmental enrichment in chimpanzees Pan troglodytes (Blumenbach, 1779) under human care

Abstract

The limitations and predictability of life in captivity can compromise animal welfare. In this context, environmental enrichment seeks to provide stimuli that favors the expression of natural behaviors, thereby promoting improvements in animal well-being. In this study, sensory, feeding, and cognitive/feeding enrichment activities were applied to two male chimpanzees from Curitiba
Municipal Zoo (PR, Brazil). Behavioral observations took place in two sessions, before and after each activity (pre- and post-enrichment), recorded using the scan sampling methodology. The data allowed the comparison of behavioral frequencies between the two phases. The results showed an increase in
feeding and exploratory behaviors, followed by a reduction in inactivity and atypical behaviors. Locomotion increased only in one of the individuals, while social interactions remained unchanged. The cognitive/feeding enrichment
activity was the one that produced the most positive results. Overall, the data demonstrates that environmental enrichment was effective in promoting changes in the behavioral repertoire of the chimpanzees studied.