Although temperament has been studied in a wide range of animal species such as primates, dog or a rodents, it has not yet been well documented in birds and in particular in psittacids. Since parrots possess developed communicative and cognitive skills, the study of personality traits is of...

Zoos worldwide play an important role in both in situ and ex situ conservation via efforts such as providing breeding programmes and reintroductions into the wild. Zoo populations are crucial as a buffer against extinction. However, a mismatch between the wild and zoo environments can lead to...

Monitoring of infectious diseases is one of the most important pillars of preventive medicine in zoos. Screening for parasitic and bacterial infections is important to keep animals and equipment safe from pathogens that may pose a risk to animal and human health. Zoos usually contain many different ...

Blastocystis is a highly prevalent eukaryotic parasite of many animals and humans worldwide. It can compromise the gastrointestinal tract and cause gastrointestinal symptoms, constituting a serious threat to human health and animal growth. Many animals are potential sources of Blastocystis...

A "visitor effect" on zoo-housed species has been documented since the 1970s, with research focused on mammals (specifically primates). To broaden our understanding of the "visitor effect" in a non-mammal, we conducted a case study on a pair of hornbills, recording behavior and aviary use alongside ...

This book contains 13 chapters on the animal learning theory, the main categories of animal learning styles, the diverse natural history of zoo animals, the research undertaken which demonstrates ultimate benefits of learning, the advantages and disadvantages of the different training approaches,...

The black lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysopygus) is an endangered primate species, restricted to the Atlantic Forest fragments of São Paulo state, Brazil, with an estimated wild population of ~1600 individuals. Integrative studies between zoo (ex situ) and wild (in situ) animals are crucial to...

Mammalian species express a broad variety in the shape of their extrahepatic biliary tract. While a gall bladder is present in many species, others are lacking this organ. Evolutionary driving forces for these differences have not been determined yet, and organ-specific pathologies might present...

Giardia duodenalis is a flagellated parasitic microorganism that parasitizes in the intestines of humans and animals. Although asymptomatic infections commonly exist in both humans and animals, some enteric symptoms have been reported in immunocompromised individuals, posing a threat to public...