Department of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Institute of Animal Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland.
Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1J, 20-708, Lublin, Poland.
Acta Vet Scand. 2021 Jun 10;63(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s13028-021-00589-9.
Captive European bison (Bison bonasus) play an active role in conservation measures for this species; this includes education, which may conflict with these animals' welfare. The effect of the presence of visitors on the welfare of captive animals can be negative, positive or neutral. However, the response of a given species to visitors is difficult to predict, since even closely related species display varying levels of tolerance to captivity. The aim of the study was to compare immunoreactive fecal cortisol levels (regarded as an indicator of the level of physiological stress) in groups of captive European bison that differed in terms of their social structure and the level of visitor pressure. The second aim was to determine if there was a correlation between intestinal parasitic burden and immunoreactive fecal cortisol levels.
Immunoreactive fecal cortisol levels were not influenced by sex or age. However, study site and the interaction between study site and visitor pressure were statistically significant. European bison in one enclosure presented higher levels of immunoreactive fecal cortisol on weekdays than at weekends. In the other two study sites, the levels did not differ between weekdays and weekends. No correlation was found between parasitological infestation and immunoreactive fecal cortisol levels.
Measurement of fecal cortisol metabolites could be a valuable method for further research into the welfare of European bison in captivity. More subtle factors such as individual animal characteristics, feeding systems, and the arrangement of enclosures can be of great importance in terms of the effect of visitors on animals. The results of this study can be used in guidelines for the management of European bison populations.
圈养欧洲野牛（Bison bonasus）在该物种的保护措施中发挥着积极作用；这包括教育，这可能与这些动物的福利相冲突。访客的存在对圈养动物福利的影响可能是负面的、正面的或中性的。然而，由于即使是密切相关的物种对圈养的耐受性也存在差异，因此很难预测特定物种对访客的反应。本研究的目的是比较具有不同社会结构和访客压力水平的圈养欧洲野牛群体中免疫反应性粪便皮质醇水平（被认为是生理应激水平的指标）。第二个目的是确定肠道寄生虫负担与免疫反应性粪便皮质醇水平之间是否存在相关性。
免疫反应性粪便皮质醇水平不受性别或年龄的影响。然而，研究地点和研究地点与访客压力之间的相互作用具有统计学意义。一个围栏中的欧洲野牛在工作日的免疫反应性粪便皮质醇水平高于周末。在另外两个研究地点，工作日和周末之间的水平没有差异。未发现寄生虫感染与免疫反应性粪便皮质醇水平之间存在相关性。
测量粪便皮质醇代谢物可能是进一步研究圈养欧洲野牛福利的一种有价值的方法。在访客对动物的影响方面，个体动物特征、饲养系统和围栏布局等更细微的因素可能非常重要。本研究的结果可用于欧洲野牛种群管理指南。
