13.07.2015 Views

What's a Polar Bear Doing in the Tropics? - Animal Concerns ...

What's a Polar Bear Doing in the Tropics? - Animal Concerns ...

What's a Polar Bear Doing in the Tropics? - Animal Concerns ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

CHAPTER 4EFFECTS OF CAPTIVITY ON SINGAPORE ZOOPOLAR BEARS4.1 Detailed behavioural study: Effects of captivity4.1.1 MethodsA prelim<strong>in</strong>ary study was conducted <strong>in</strong> August 2005. The prelim<strong>in</strong>ary studyprovided an opportunity for <strong>the</strong> observers to familiarise <strong>the</strong>mselves with <strong>the</strong>behavioural repertoire of <strong>the</strong> animals, as well as ref<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> observationprotocol.S<strong>in</strong>ce data on behavioural states ra<strong>the</strong>r than events were collected and <strong>the</strong>subjects were sampled us<strong>in</strong>g a few behavioural categories (Table 4.1), <strong>the</strong>polar bears were observed <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir enclosure us<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>stantaneous and scananimal sampl<strong>in</strong>g. 45 Scans were made every two m<strong>in</strong>utes to determ<strong>in</strong>e whichof <strong>the</strong> behaviour categories (def<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> Table 4.1 and 4.2) each <strong>in</strong>dividualwas engaged <strong>in</strong>. The sampl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>terval of two m<strong>in</strong>utes was chosen after <strong>the</strong>prelim<strong>in</strong>ary study, s<strong>in</strong>ce it gave <strong>the</strong> closest account of <strong>the</strong>ir behaviour.Ad libitum sampl<strong>in</strong>g was also used to record novel or <strong>in</strong>trigu<strong>in</strong>g behavioursand actions.Follow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> prelim<strong>in</strong>ary study, observations were made from Septemberuntil December 2005 between <strong>the</strong> hours of approximately 1000 and 1730 fora total of seven days. Observations were made for 3150 m<strong>in</strong>utes with a totalof 1575 sample po<strong>in</strong>ts.What’s a polar bear do<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> tropics?35www.acres.org.sg

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!