Importance of the personality of wolves (Canis lupus) in managed care

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to define the main personality traits of two zoo-housed wolves, by evaluating the behavioral traits that remain constant in different environmental contexts. The study was conducted on two European grey wolves (Wolf A and Wolf B), housed at the Giardino Zoologico di Pistoia (Italy). The wolves were born in March 2009 at the Parco Faunistico la Torbiera (Italy) and belong to the same litter. We video-recorded the behavior during three observation periods: baseline period, enrichment period and fixed feeding time period. In the baseline period and enrichment periods, the food was provided by caregivers at random times during the day. For the baseline and the fixed feeding time period, we conducted 102 hours of observations (6 hours per day). During the enrichment period, we tested three types of enrichments and distributed enrichment days randomly. In this phase, we carried out 126 hours (6 hours per day). The videos were analysed with the Kinovea 0.9.5® Software. Statistical analysis was performed with the two-way ANOVA statistical test and post-hoc Tukey's multiple comparison test. The results showed a different behavioral response to various environmental contexts. The locomotion behavior was performed more by Wolf B and this difference remained constant during all the phases. In the enrichment period, alert and stress -related behaviors decreased in both subjects, whilst exploration and play behavior increased only for Wolf A. Furthermore, only for Wolf B was observed a reduction in locomotion. In the fixed feeding time phase, movement increased for both, but alert increased for Wolf A, while it decreased for Wolf B, as well as stress-related behaviors. This study confirmed that the two subjects have consistent behavioral traits shown over the course of the three environmental conditions, with important individual differences even though the two subjects are genetically related and live together, in the same environment, since birth. The behavior analysis allowed us to define the main personality traits of the two wolves and obtain key information about their needs to implement appropriate behavioral management procedures aimed at ensuring a good level of well-being.