Changing social groups in zoo populations

Abstract

Changes in social groups of animals in zoos occur frequently, and group structures can be changed in a variety of ways: introductions of animals, removals of animals, births and deaths. Information on procedures used to manage group changes in zoos is not generally published in the scientific literature which means that useful infonnation is not always freely available and keepers often have to rely on advice by word-of-mouth, instinct or guesswork when carrying out group changes. A change in a group structure can be stressful to the animals, and may result in increased aggression, for example while animals in the group are establishing their dominance hierarchy. Such stress may lead to deterioration in health, or indeed death of an animal. Since many species held in zoos are of high conservation priority, the loss of only a small number of individuals, particularly those that will potentially breed, can have a severely detrimental impact on the remaining population.