Special Issue Survey of Cetaceans in Captive Care

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322 Couquiaudenvironment does not allow the creation of a seminaturalhabitat.Artificial facilities are more costly to buildand maintain than natural enclosures due to thetype of construction and the operation of the lifesupport system. Yet, they allow for greater controlof the environment and, possibly, better protectionagainst hazards than natural facilities.Recent artificial environments incorporatenaturalistic features and elements. The design ofcoves and islands, the incorporation of naturalboulders or artificial reefs, topography that simulatesa rocky shore or beach, and wave generatorsthat recreate an ocean swell are all elements thatcan bring a certain degree of enrichment to theanimal environment according to surveyed facilities.These features often come with greater space,and multiple and free-shape pools that allow forFigure 4.7. Educational programme in an artificial poolFigure 4.8. Feeding and petting in an artificial pool(Photograph from M. Linet-Frion)escape from other animals, rest, and diversityof swimming pattern. Although these elementsincrease the cost of construction and maintenance,they may prove beneficial in the long termby reducing behavioural problems related to poorenvironmental design.Figure 4.5. Show in an artificial poolFigure 4.6. Show in an artificial poolFunctions of PoolsDue to the various needs associated with publicdisplay, research, training, medical care, breeding,and, most importantly, the animals’ social needs,single-pool facilities have evolved into multi-poolcomplexes. Each pool has a main function, but theyeach can be used for other purposes as well. Namesof pools may vary among facilities. According toUSA proposed regulations, the denomination ofareas in SWTD facilities varies from those of regulardisplay facilities (Anonymous, 1979-1984,1995; 1998a; 1998b; 1999). The term “pool” isused in the following section regardless of theenvironment, but it is applicable to enclosures andlagoons as well.In practice, pool functions are by no meansexclusively defined. Many facilities use poolsaccording to circumstances. In multi-pool facilities,if there is no maternity pool, a pregnant or
4. Types and Functions of Pools and Enclosures 323nursing female is often put into a holding poolnot designed for this purpose. If temperamentalincompatibility occurs between animals, theysometimes need to be separated. When severalspecies are kept together, but inter-species breedingis not favoured, males and females also needto be separated. Therefore, a facility may veryquickly face space limitations. The planning ofa new facility too often responds to immediateneeds without foreseeing further developmentsin the size of the colony or its structure, or themany events in the cetaceans’ lives. It is thereforeimportant from the planning stage on to anticipatethose needs by providing extra space and extrapools, and by designing habitats that ensure thatthe animals’ behavioural requirements are met.Main PoolThe main pool, also called the show pool in displayfacilities, is generally the largest pool, whichis used for display purposes and often is accessibleto public viewing. Animals usually haveaccess to this pool at all times. In the daytime,they may be kept temporarily in another poolbefore shows or public sessions. All pools whereanimals are housed permanently, and a fortiorinot given access to other pools, should followregulation requirements for the main or permanent,pool. Bassos & Wells (1996), as well as thesurveyed facilities, recommend, however, that allanimals have access to at least two pools to caterfor escape and varied behaviours.The dimensions and shape of the main pool willbe designed to allow the animals to display all species-specificbehaviours, including fast swimming,breaching, and unison swimming. It is importantto provide ample space to allow for the developmentof social hierarchy and to provide adequatedistance between individuals in the case of multispeciesexhibits.Cetacean species are known to have very differentdiving and foraging behaviours. It is thereforeencouraged that enough space be provided forspecies known to be pelagic, and thus deep divers,and for those that exhibit gregarious behaviour.Holding PoolThe pool used for temporary housing or for trainingpurposes is called the holding pool or pen innatural environments. It is also known as the secondarypool or training pool. Holding pools are asimportant in controlled environments as the mainpool. They are used for training, temporary housing,and separation. This pool is usually smallerthan the main pool.Holding pools can be used to house animalspermanently only if their dimensions are similarto those of the main pool. Subdividing withpartitions to allow a larger number of animalsor different species to be maintained separatelyshould be avoided because the dimension requirementswill no longer apply. If some individualsneed to be separated permanently from the rest ofthe group because of behavioural problems, poolswith space requirements similar to the main poolwill be provided.Many surveyed facilities recommend that aminimum of two holding pools be connected tothe main pool to allow for multiple functions.They also advise that a maternity pool be incorporatedif breeding is encouraged. If this pool isnot incorporated in the design, one of the holdingpools will need to be used for this purpose,thereby reducing the overall space available toother animals.Medical PoolThe medical or quarantine pool, also called the husbandryor isolation pool, is a small pool designedfor handling and isolating animals requiring medicaltreatment (Geraci, 1986). It is preferably connectedto the other pools, with the possibility forisolation with watertight gates. In artificial facilities,a medical pool preferably will have a separatewater system that can be isolated from the mainone to prevent contamination of other pools andso that it can be drained and refilled very quickly.It will ideally provide options for both salt- andfreshwater. Dehydrated animals may be successfullyrehydrated by being kept in freshwater forlimited time (Sweeney & Samansky, 1995). Foranimals being treated for contagious diseases thatrequire isolation, or for stranded animals, it ispreferable to use a pool physically separated fromthe pools housing resident animals. In naturalenvironments where water control is not possible,a similar option can be considered.The medical pool can be located between themain pool and one of the holding pools or betweentwo holding pools to facilitate the transfer of ananimal. (For the design, equipment, and special featuresof medical pools, please see Chapter 5.) If themedical pool also is used to treat pinnipeds, appropriatedrainage and fencing will be provided.Maternity PoolThe maternity or nursery pool is an alternativetype of holding pool dedicated to pregnant andparturient females, and to nursing females withtheir calves.To promote successful breeding and rearing ofhealthy calves, a facility can have a pool specificallydesigned for this function. Many problemshave occurred in the past due to unsuitable pooldesign (Amundin, 1986; survey). Pools with arestricted surface area or too shallow depth may
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8. Husbandry 373Figure 8.3. Milk sa
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8. Husbandry 375reintroducing a new
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8. Husbandry 377Rescue and Rehabili
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8. Husbandry 379Appendix II include
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8. Husbandry 381& R. J. Harrison (E
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Appendix 383Dolphinarium YaltaDolph
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Appendix 385Aomori Prefectural Asam
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