B. BASSON, E. HOLT, R. SHAH, C.

SKELDON

New husbandry regime and welfare monitoring

programme for the Clouded Leopards, Neofelis
nebulosa brachyurus, at Westbrook Zoo
 INTRODUCTION

• A secretive, arboreal ambush predator of subtropical/tropical moist

lowland forest and shrubland of Southeast Asia (Fletchall, 2000)

• IUCN status – vulnerable and declining due to harvesting and habitat

destruction (IUCN, 2008)

• The only member of genus - taxonomically unique and reproduces poorly

in captivity (Brown et al, 1995)

• Sub-species thought to be extinct in the wild

 SCENARIO

• General health problems

– Diet
• Stress related behaviour
– Stereotypic behaviour
– Self-directed behaviour
• Aggression between individuals
• Current housing insufficient
– Disturbance
– Lack of enrichment
– Insufficient enclosure size and
design
 AIM

To provide an environment that replicates

natural habitat closely in order to increase the
potential to express natural behaviour and
increase welfare and reproductive success
 EXHIBIT LOCATION

Area B
• Reduce impact from predators and prey
• Close car park surrounding area to minimise disturbance
Car entrance

Clouded
Leopard
enclosure
Staff entrance
Car parking

Main entrance - visitors

 8002 y a M
8002li r p A

8002 yl uJ

8002 r ebot c O
8002 r eb mev o N
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8002 enuJ

9002 r ebot c O
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8002t s ugu A

9002 yr aunaJ
Monitor behaviour + construct Ethogram
Transfer to temporary housing
Construction of new enclosures
Staff training
Transfer to individual enclosures
Settlement period
Monitor sexual behaviour
Start introduction program
Enrichment program
 8002 y a M
8002li r p A

8002 yl uJ

8002 r ebot c O
8002 r eb mev o N
8002 r eb mec e D
8002 enuJ

9002 r ebot c O
8002 r eb met pe S
8002t s ugu A

9002 yr aunaJ
Monitor behaviour + construct Ethogram
Transfer to temporary housing
Construction of new enclosures
Staff training
Transfer to individual enclosures
Settlement period
Monitor sexual behaviour
Start introduction program
Enrichment program
 ENRICHMENT

•Enclosure
– Dense vegetation
– Increased privacy
– Varied topography
•Diet
– Scatter feed
– Whole prey items (McFee, 2002)
– Fast days
•Environmental enrichment
– Olfactory stimuli
– Physical stimuli

(Fletchall, 2000)
 STAFF TRAINING & WELFARE MONITORING

•Reduce staff number to 4 (Law and Tatner, 1998; Wielebnowski, 2002)

•Training and workshops
– Record keeping
– Education
– Feeding regime
– Enrichment
– Cortisol monitoring and faecal analysis (Law and Tatner, 1998)
– Ethogram construction
 STAFF TRAINING & WELFARE MONITORING cont.

Management
•General behavioural observation
– Monitoring stress
– Stereotypic
– Self directed
•Monitor physiological stress indicators
– Cortisol from faecal samples
– Reliable, non-invasive method
– Continuous monitoring to establish accurate baseline data (Graham and Brown, 1996)
 8002 y a M
8002li r p A

8002 yl uJ

8002 r ebot c O
8002 r eb mev o N
8002 r eb mec e D
8002 enuJ

9002 r ebot c O
8002 r eb met pe S
8002t s ugu A

9002 yr aunaJ
Monitor behaviour + construct Ethogram
Transfer to temporary housing
Construction of new enclosures
Staff training
Transfer to individual enclosures
Settlement period
Monitor sexual behaviour
Start introduction program
Enrichment program
 PREPARATION & BREEDING

•Increase behavioural observations looking for behaviours associated with

oestrus cycle (Umapathy et al, 2007)
– Increased vocalisation
– Rolling
– Cheek marking
• Measuring faecal estradiol-17 and progestin concentrations to monitor
ovarian function (Graham et al, 1995)
 INTRODUCTION PROGRAMME

• Introduction activity at night

• Replicate home range overlap
prior to courtship (Law and Tatner,
1998)
• One is confined to den while
other has access to whole
enclosure to investigate and
scent-mark (Law and Tatner, 1998)
• No access to dens when cats
eventually meet
• Reduce potential aggression in
male
• All staff present

Law and Tatner, 1998; Fletchall, 2000)

 8002 y a M
8002li r p A

8002 yl uJ

8002 r ebot c O
8002 r eb mev o N
8002 r eb mec e D
8002 enuJ

9002 r ebot c O
8002 r eb met pe S
8002t s ugu A

9002 yr aunaJ
Monitor behaviour + construct Ethogram
Transfer to temporary housing
Construction of new enclosures
Staff training
Transfer to individual enclosures
Settlement period
Monitor sexual behaviour
Start introduction program
Enrichment program
 BREEDING OUTCOMES

• If breeding successful:
– Refer to studbook for re-housing offspring
– Pair cubs before age of 1 (Brown et al, 1995; Fletchall, 2000)
– Discourage hand rearing
• If breeding attempts fail repeatedly:
– Consider lighting system (Brown et al, 1995)
– Consider artificial insemination (last resort) (Fletchall, 2000)
 REFERENCES

Brown, J.L. Wildt, D.E. Graham, L.H. byers, A.P. Collins, L. Barret, S. & Howard, J. (1995) Natural versus
chorionic gondatropin-induced ovarian responses in the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) assessed
by fecal steroid analysis. Biology of Reproduction 53, 93-102
Fletchall, N.B.(2000) Husbandry guidelines for the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) Grand Rapids, MI:
John Ball Zoological Garden. 60-69
Graham, L. H. Goodrowe, K,L. Raeside, J.I. & Liptrap, R.M. (1995) Non-invasive monitoring of ovarian
function in several felid species by measurement of fecal estradiol-17. Zoo Biology 14, 223-237
Graham, L.H. & Brown, J.L. (1996) Cortisol metabolism in the domestic cat and implications for non-invasive
monitoring of adrenocortical function in endangered felids. Zoo Biology 15, 71-82
IUCN Red List (2008) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. [Online] available at:
www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/14519/summ
Law, G. & Tatner, P. (1998) Behaviour of a captive pair of clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa): Introduction
without injury. Animal Welfare 7, 57-76
McFee, M.E. (2002) Intact Carcasses as Enrichment for Large Felids: Effects on On- and Off-Exhibit
Behaviors. Zoo Biology 21, 37-47
Umapathy, G., Sontakke, S.D., Srinivasu, K., Kiran, T., Kholkute, S.D & Shivaji, S. (2007) Estrus behaviour
and fecal steroid profiles in the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) during natural and gondatropin-
induces estrus. Animal Reproductive Science 101, 313-325
Wielebnowski, N.C. Fletchall, N. Carlstead, K., Busso, J.M. & Brown, J.L (2002) Noninvasive assessment of
adrenal activity associated with husbandry and behavioural factors in the North American clouded
leopard population. Zoo Biology 21, 77-98