Year
2025
Season
Spring
Paper Type
Master's Thesis
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Degree Name
Master of Science in Psychological Science (MSPS)
Department
Psychological and Brain Sciences
NACO controlled Corporate Body
University of North Florida. Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
Committee Chairperson
Dr. Greg Kohn
Second Advisor
Dr. Lindsay Mahovetz-Myers
Third Advisor
Dr. Quincy Gibson
Department Chair
Dr. Lori Lange
College Dean
Dr. Kaveri Subrahmanyam
Abstract
As conservation and education institutions, modern zoos balance the needs of animals with the interests of visitors through several strategies which can increase animal wellbeing and improve visitor experience. Environmental enrichment is frequently employed to increase the suitability of anthropogenic environments for zoo-housed animals, such as through walkthrough habitats and free-flight aviaries. While habitats such as these are important for visitor experience and can be enriching to animals, there are also wellbeing considerations for these spaces. Walkthrough habitats can be a potential source of fear and stress for animals, as shown by increased frequencies of vigilance, undesirable behavior, and aggression. The present study addresses wellbeing concerns for the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’s Rainbow (Trichoglossus moluccanus) and Coconut (Trichoglossus haematodus) Lorikeets, who have an history of increased injurious aggression (severe aggression). Research has shown that all aggression serves an important function in maintaining social structures, though increased severe aggression has been associated with social network instability, which can indicate reduced wellbeing. These concerns were addressed through a behavioral monitoring study, social network analysis, and the introduction of privacy perches to see if they decreased severe aggression. Results show these lorikeets’ social network communities are formed based on relatedness, contrary to previous literature on parrot sociality, with fluctuations in social behavior expression and network stability. While privacy perch too limited to say they affected aggression, these findings have broad implications for future research on parrot sociality, what intrinsic or extrinsic factors impact animal wellbeing, and for the assessment of wellbeing in zoos.
Suggested Citation
Simkins, Emily, "Severe aggression among zoo-housed coconut (Trichoglossus haematodus) and rainbow (Trichoglossus moluccanus) lorikeets: Wellbeing considerations for free-flight aviaries" (2025). UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 1346.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/1346
Included in
Behavior and Ethology Commons, Comparative Psychology Commons, Ornithology Commons, Zoology Commons