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Articles

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2003)

Feeding as a Method of Environmental Enrichment for Malay Tapirs (Tapirus indicus) at Nuremberg Zoo, Germany

Submitted
22 June 2025
Published
2003-12-01

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of environmental enrichment on the feeding and resting behaviour of Malay tapirs at the Nuremberg Zoo. In addition, the enrichment objects used were examined in order to ascertain their suitability as occupational food. For this purpose, three successive experiments were carried out with the Malay tapir group (1.2) at Nuremberg Zoo within an observation period lasting from July 1st to October 2nd 2002. These experiments used suspended food branches and stuffed jute sacks as well as providing spiked hay-bales. The observed individuals were an adult male, an adult female and her female calf. The results pointed to a preference for the suspended food branches followed by the hay-bales and finally the jute sacks.

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