Ted Friend

29.04.2021 , 06:12 Uhr

Wonderful discussion, people are thinking!! But one problem with most definitions is that life is often more complicated than simple sentences. Most good definitions of stereotypic behavior include the caveat that there is no obvious cause of the repetitive behaviour and that the animal is in a trance like state. Just claiming that any repetitive behavior is suffering is grossly over simplified. What experienced animal keeper in a zoo has not observed many species waiting to get into their enclosure where they are about to be fed pacing in excitement? Many horses do the same thing at riding stables, especially if the horses are accustomed to a set feeding time. Are they suffering? Animals under the control of people often have to wait for something they want. When I was a child and was forced to wait sitting in a chair to see a doctor, various stereotypic behaviors appeared that helped me cope. Now, I just pull out my smart phone. Animal activists often show video of zoo elephants pacing or rocking, but please look at that video in context. It is probably close to feeding time, bath time, or time when they have contact with a trainer, and the elephant is impatiently waiting. Or the elephant may be picking up on other cues that signal that she will be the next to be fed. In an otherwise boring environment, excitement through anticipation can be useful stimuli. This was always a favorite topic for discussion in my graduate classes. I have personally seen an elephant in Zimbabwe pacing a bit when there was drought and a cue at the water hole. Another case was when there was a small water barrier between one elephant and its herd mates. Before I could turn on the video, the pacing elephant waded across and joined the group.