Stereotypies in captive animals have been defined as repetitive, invariant patterns of behavior that serve no obvious goal or function. Stereotypies are commonly attributed to boredom or stress, and are typically "treated" with environmental enrichment. These enrichment items often includes food presented at times other than regular feedings. This thesis applies a "foraging loop" hypothesis to the behaviors of contrasting species of marine mammal carnivores; polar bears and walruses. Polar bears in the wild spend the majority of each day traveling to locate prey; captive polar bears spend...
Stereotypies in captive animals have been defined as repetitive, invariant patterns of behavior that serve no obvious goal or function. Stereotypies a...