Enriching Tortoises: assessing color preference

Passos, L, Melo, H and Young, RJ 2014, 'Enriching Tortoises: assessing color preference' , Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 17 (3) , pp. 274-281.

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Abstract

Environmental enrichment is a principle that is used to enhance the quality of care for nonhuman animals in captivity. To achieve this, it is necessary to understand the animal’s needs. This study focused on color preference to provide food stimuli as a source of environmental enrichment for the tortoise, Chelonoidis denticulata. During this study, the stimuli green-, blue-, yellow-, and red-colored bananas and plaster blocks were randomly offered to the tortoises. Analysis of the data showed that the tortoises had a preference for the stimuli dyed with colors red and yellow over the other presented colors. It was possible to conclude that presenting food in different colors stimulated the animals to evaluate their environment and make choices in relation to their color preference. Thus, this experiment introduced an element of choice into their lives, beyond identifying color food preferences for the tortoises. The element of choice is known to be important to animal welfare.

Item Type:	Article
Themes:	Built and Human Environment
Schools:	Schools > School of Environment and Life Sciences > Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
Publisher:	Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
Refereed:	Yes
ISSN:	1088-8705
Related URLs:	Publication
Funders:	CAPES, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do estado de Minas Gerais
Depositing User:	Professor Robert Young
Date Deposited:	20 Jan 2015 11:51
Last Modified:	07 Nov 2019 16:15
URI:	http://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/33314

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