Research Article

Daily activity of european bison in zoological gardens

Wojciech Neja, Serkan Ozkaya, Małgorzata Jankowska, Anna Sawa, Jagoda Szabowska

1. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 11(3), 2012, 41‒48

Abstract. Seven observations of European bison were made between April and July 2009 (from 6.00 to 18.00) at the Municipal Zoological Garden of the Sea Coast in Gdańsk-Oliwa (8 animals) and at the Polish Fauna Garden of Forest Culture and Leisure Park “Myślęcinek” in Bydgoszcz (4 animals). During 12-hour observations, the European bison from zoological gardens spent 31% of their time feeding, 47% standing and moving, and 22% lying down (showing preference for left lateral recumbency), although no statistically significant effect of the animals’ living environment (garden) was found. The age and sex of European bison had a statistically significant effect on the amount of time spent performing basic activities. The longest standing and moving times were observed in calves, while males spent most of their time resting–lying. In both zoological gardens, the increased feed intake activity was closely associated with feeding time, and the number of European bison resting lying was found to increase immediately after feed intake activity.

Keywords: behaviour, European bison, zoological gardens