Feasts and fasts: the impact of feeding regimes on the activity budgets of zoo-housed jaguars Panthera onca

Abstract

Feeding practices are critical for the welfare of zoo-housed carnivores, yet zoo diets often lack the complexity of natural prey, potentially reducing stimulation and increasing stereotypic behaviours. This study examined how different food items combined with a fasting regime influenced the behaviour and activity budgets of three jaguars Panthera onca over eight weeks. Four feeding treatments were tested: featherless chicken, feathered chicken, beef meat without skin on bone (all with three feeding, four fasting days per week), and whole sheep or goat carcasses (two feeding, five fasting days per week). Behaviours were recorded continuously based on an ethogram, and beta regression mixed-effects models were used for analysis. Whole carcasses elicited the longest feeding times (88±21 minutes), compared to meat on bone (58±23 minutes) and chicken (32±10 minutes feathered, 12±4 minutes featherless) on feeding days. Large carcasses also encouraged unique behaviours such as food carrying, guarding, and manipulation, while providing intermittent feeding opportunities and possibly prolonged satiation. Although these differences were evident in feeding-related behaviours, overall activity budgets remained largely stable, and stereotypic pacing was not substantially affected by diet composition or fasting schedules. These findings underscore the enrichment potential of whole carcasses in promoting natural behaviours and enhancing feeding engagement. Zoos may benefit from incorporating more varied and naturalistic feeding regimes to improve animal welfare.