Revving up tigers’ animal instinct
Tiger populations have reached critically endangered levels—only around 4,000 tigers currently exist in the wild. And while breeding programs in zoos are proving to be a major help in ensuring the species’ longevity, problems exist: Like all cats, tigers are territorial and often struggle to adapt to new environments. That can include reluctance to breed.
Professor Laura Graham, from the Department of Animal Biosciences and director of the not-for-profit organization Wildlife Research Group (WRG) Conservation, says a pheromone spray used for reducing stress in domestic cats might help speed up the acclimation process for their bigger relatives.
“Anyone who has cats knows how they rub their cheek against things,” explains Graham. “Well, they’re depositing a pheromone that tells them that this is a happy, safe place to be. We think that might work for big cats, too.”
She’s testing a commercial product called Feliway, which is popularly used by veterinarians after surgery to help reduce stress in feline patients. It works by mimicking the natural pheromones released by cats when they are calm and comfortable.
Graham’s first study with Feliway was conducted with four cheetahs being moved between compounds at African Lion Safari, located in Hamilton, Ont. Zookeepers at African Lion Safari sprayed the cheetah’s new house with Feliway and the animals responded well to the new environment.
In her current research project, Graham worked with 31 different zoological institutions across North America—including the Toronto Zoo, the Indianapolis Zoo, the San Diego Zoo, and the Calgary Zoo—to study the effect of Feliway on tigers relocated to different zoos.
“Tigers in accredited zoos are sometimes moved from one zoo to another for breeding purposes, to prevent inbreeding and maximize genetic diversity,” says Graham. “You can understand that this could be a little stressful for them.”
She and her research team found that tigers moved to exhibits where Feliway was sprayed every other day were able to adjust to their new homes in approximately two weeks. That compared well to the typical three-week acclimation process.
Researchers measured tiger stress levels by analyzing amounts of cortisol (the stress hormone) in their fecal matter. This method offered them a non-invasive monitoring technique that does not cause further stress.
“Zoos are critically important to the conservation of endangered species in a variety of ways, including by maintaining healthy breeding populations that can be used as a last ditch effort to re-establish wild populations if necessary,” says Graham.
Funding for this project comes from Graham’s work alongside other labs, as well as her work with WRG Conservation and the Campbell Centre for the Study of animal Welfare. Her research activity was recently reported at the 2016 CCSAW Symposium.