Reproductive behavior of red panda Ailurus Fulgens in the central zoo, Lalitpur, Nepal
Date
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Zoology
Abstract
The population of Red Panda is decreasing with less than 10,000 individuals in the wild
because of habitat destruction, fragmentation, poaching, and hunting for its fur. Captive
breeding has become an increasingly crucial strategy for conserving such endangered
species, but efforts to generate self-sustaining populations have met with poor success
despite large resources being allocated. Animals are also known to be stressed in captivity
and it is necessary to examine reproductive behavior in relation to the complexity of habitat
requirements, dietary preferences, privacy, and, in particular, pregnant moms and their
sensitivity to disruptions. This study observed the reproductive behavior of the Red Panda
along with other behavioral activities in the Central Zoo, Lalitpur, Nepal using the noninvasive
videography
method.
Scan
and
focal
sampling
were
used
to
collect
the
behavioral
data
from December 2020 to June 2021. A total of 16,416 behavioral activities were
recorded in 20,520 minutes. The reproductive behaviors scent-marking, allogrooming,
chasing, running, aggressiveness, sniffing, response, mating and feeding on feces were
observed along with the general behaviors like locomotion, climbing, standing, selfgrooming,
resting, feeding, sleeping, defecation, urination, drinking, self-play, and
stretching. The study revealed that reproductive behavior covered only 1-2% of the total
activity budget. Precipitation influenced the reproductive behavior, and activities increased
at low volume of precipitation. Humidity and atmospheric pressure had no significant
effect. Copulation was attempted many times, and hence, reproduction can be successful if
the animal husbandry is properly managed.