The study was carried out on four big cats at FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary in Nijeberkoop, Netherlands. The study was carried out and developed in corporation with Four Paws International. The big cats studied comprised of two female and one male lion (Panthera leo) and one male tiger (Panthera tigris).
The animals at FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary are rescued from situations where they were either exploited or kept as pets. As a result of this, the individuals show different types of health issues, including effects of inbreeding and malnourishment to a variety of stereotypic behaviors and mental health problems.
This study was carried out in two phases, before and after the move to new enclosures. Simba and Elza participated both before and after the move, Tsezar only before the move and Manuschka only after the move.
What did the old enclosures look like?
All the enclosures had an indoor and an outdoor part that could be separated with a drop gate. The outdoor enclosures consisted of metal mesh, sand, bushes/trees, grass, a water bowl and furnishing. Even though the animals were housed in separate enclosures the metal mesh allowed the possibility for the animals to see and interact with each other. The indoor enclosures consisted of rigid walls, metal mesh, a water bowl, hay bed/hammock, a heat plate and a platform used for feeding.
What do the new enclosures look like?
Just as the old enclosures the new ones had an indoor and an outdoor part that could be separated with a drop gate. The outdoor enclosures consisted of metal mesh, grass, bushes, trees, water bowls, furnishing and a small pool. Just as in the old enclosures the animals housed next to each other could see and interact with each other. The indoor enclosures consisted of rigid walls, metal fencing, water bowls, hammock and platforms.
Behaviors were sampled with instantaneous recording during test- and control periods that alternated according to a pseudo-random schedule. The animals were then sprayed with either the putative F3p pheromone or with water. The behaviors were collected with ZooMonitor according to a standardized ethogram encompassing 28 behaviors.
Two methods of spraying was used. In the first method, the animals were trained to approach the fence to receive either a spray of pheromone or of water as a control, from the animal caretakers. The animals were sprayed on either their chest or shoulder, depending on if the animal was moving during the spraying. The second method, only used for Manuschka, consisted of spraying the enclosures instead of directly on the body of the animal.