Stereotypic behaviour Around the world animals are suffering in captivity. This suffering can manifest itself in various ways, and in particular in certain behavioural patterns. These are obsessive and repetitive and are called 'stereotyped behaviours'. A wide range of species, of both wild caught and captive bred animals may be affected. Pacing Often apparent in members of the big cats family, and also in bears and elephants. The animals will endlessly pace out a regular path, sometimes even putting their feet in exactly the same spots each time. This pacing behaviour flattens vegetation in their enclosures and wears away the soil, sometimes leaving pronounced tracks. Rocking and swaying Great apes (such as chimpanzees) and elephants can be seen displaying this behaviour. Elephants will sway continuously from side to side, or else sometimes rock back and forth, lifting first one front leg and then the other. This behaviour is also seen in humans who are mentally ill. Overgrooming and mutilation Primates often overgroom themselves and each other. This can be caused by boredom or stress. Female primates will overgroom their young to avoid interaction with other primates if they feel vulnerable or threatened. Chimpanzees will pull out their own hair, particularly on their forearms. Some primates (and even parrots) will overgroom to such an extent that it becomes obsessive and mutilation occurs. Primates have been known to chew off their own tails. Neck twisting Displayed by giraffes, who bend their neck and head back and forth repeatedly. Chewing and bar biting Bears, horses, giraffes and other animals bite or chew the bars of their cages. The giraffes at one zoo chewed holes in the doors of their 'house' so that daylight was visible through it. Hyperaggression Seen in primates and big cats. Any unusual stimulation, for example the throwing of a food supply into their enclosure outside the normal feeding times, can cause aggression, and low ranking animals may be attacked. Abnormal maternal behaviour This includes over-grooming, as well as rejection of young, or even eating of the young by their mother. Polar bears in zoos have been known to kill and eat their young, so have big cats such as tigers. Many zoos take baby primates away from their mothers for hand rearing, because they have been rejected. This leads to the problem of what to do with the youngster when weaned, as it may be difficult to reintroduce the animal to the main group. Some of these unwanted monkeys end up in sanctuaries. It appears that many primates in zoos, particularly chimpanzees, reject their young. Whereas in the wild female chimpanzees learn their 'childcare' skills from watching and helping their mother, sisters or aunts, in captivity this is often not possible. Abnormal maternal behaviour is passed on to descendants. Feeding disorders Animals may play with their food to relieve boredom. Some species will pretend to stalk and 'kill' their food as they would do in the wild. Animals in zoos have been seen to repeatedly regurgitate and ingest food.
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