Scholarly Article

Environmental Effects on the Behavior of Zoo-housed Lions and Tigers, with a Case Study of the Effects of a Visual Barrier on Pacing is a journal article written by Meredith J. Bashaw, Angela S. Kelling, Mollie A. Bloomsmith,and Terry L. Maple.  This article discusses animals in captivity and whether changing captive environments results in a change in the behavior of tigers and lions.  The researchers observed two Sumatran tigers.  The tigers were placed into two different exhibits, one larger with access to places to hide from the public and one smaller with no areas of cover.  Behaviors were divided into the categories of resting, resting but awake, pacing, and any other behaviors.  It was found that there were significant differences in the amount of activity the animals displayed at different times of the day, with the morning being the most active time for them.  There was no significant difference in behavior found between the larger and smaller exhibit.  

The researchers seemed to be concerned with the fact that most zoo visitors observe the animals during their peak of inactivity, and suggested that information about their activity schedule be made more readily available to the public.  They also mention that pacing behavior seems to indicate to the public that the animal is feeling stressed or bored.  The researcher found that the number of  areas of cover the animal has in his exhibit greatly effects the amount of pacing in small cats.  However, in a subsequent case study used to determine how the placement of barriers would effect tiger behavior, the researchers found that the placement of the barrier did not impact pacing.  This led them to believe that pacing may have more to do with a behavior like feeding rather than social situations, or that visual stimuli is not the only thing impacting the animal.  Auditory and olfactory cues may be just as significant. 

Sources:

Environmental Effects on the Behavior of Zoo-housed Lions and Tigers, with a Case Study of the Effects

of a Visual Barrier on Pacing by Meredith J. Bashaw et al.