Personality of killer whales (Orcinus orca) is related to welfare and subjective well-being

Validation of indicators for the welfare assessment of captive Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis)

The Five Domains model (FDM) is a widely accepted framework for developing welfare assessment tools across various contexts, including wild animals under human care. However, only two protocols have been developed for captive cetaceans. This study aimed to create a welfare assessment protocol based on the FDM for captive Yangtze finless porpoises (YFPs; Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis). Indicators relevant to YFPs' welfare were selected via a literature review, and validated through two consecutive questionnaire surveys, four discussions with a panel of three experts, and a blind review conducted by three additional cetacean welfare experts. This process resulted in the validation of 46 welfare indicators, which were used to develop the Yangtze Finless Porpoise-Welfare Assessment Protocol (YFP-WAP) which, in its final version, contains 150 indicators. Moreover, intensity levels (the degree of impact of each indicator on the porpoises' welfare), valence (whether the indicator contributed positively or negatively to the porpoises' welfare state), and mental states associated with each indicator were also assigned by the panels of experts. Additionally, a confidence score was assigned to each indicator's intensity level, valence, and mental state that reflected experts' level of uncertainty regarding the indicator impact on the YFPs' welfare. This rigorous validation process provided transparency, helped ensure minimal bias, and reduced the likelihood of incorrect indicator elimination due to expert subjectivity. By integrating expert knowledge, the YFP-WAP provides a comprehensive approach to evaluating both positive and negative welfare states, supporting the ongoing care and management of YFPs in captivity.

Individual variation in activity budgets of a stable population of killer whales in managed care across a year

Activity budget investigations are necessary to understand how individuals within a group manage their daily activities, thus providing insights into the social dynamics of a species. Our objective was to explore and describe the behavioral activities within a group of managed care killer whales. From 261 hours of coded surface video collected from April 2022 to January 2023, we scan-sampled day-time hours to examine eight behavioral categories exhibited by 8-9 killer whales bimonthly. Minimal sex differences were found within each behavioral category across month and hour block. Females exhibited significantly more attention to trainers and rubbing on the environment than males. Individual variability was documented for all behavioral categories. The youngest male showed the most (43 % of scans) proximity and social interactions with conspecifics whereas all adults, both females and males, showed similar levels of social behavior. Three adult females and one adult male spent about a third of all scans observing their trainer(s) as they moved around the habitat. This observational behavior has been described in other delphinids as anticipatory behavior indicating a willingness to participate in future interactions with their trainers whether food rewards were available or not, and has been confirmed to represent a state of positive well-being. All killer whales actively engaged with peers and their environment in about 40 % of the documented scans. These findings are similar in degree to that observed in various other delphinid populations and support the interpretation that this killer whale group is in receive of positive welfare, displaying normal levels of social and individual behaviors for this species. Our results add to the growing body of knowledge about how killer whales manage their actions, both with conspecifics and their environment, across different social settings given their surroundings.

Cognition of the manatee: past research and future developments

In this paper, we present a review of the current knowledge related to the cognitive abilities of the manatee, with a focus on the Antillean manatee in situ and ex situ. Following a biocentric approach, we consider the animals' ecology, perception and sociality and we introduce future perspectives on their cognition. Scientific literature on the cognitive abilities of Antillean manatees' is limited and mainly linked to medical training and veterinary manipulations. To perceive and to interact with their social and natural environment (e.g. social interactions, foraging and traveling), manatees use visual, acoustic and tactile modalities that may be involved in a large range of cognitive abilities. Research on stimuli perception in manatees is scarce; however, these animals demonstrate abilities to learn and appear to show long-term memory. For example, to mate and/or to forage manatees travel at medium and large geographical scales; without doubt their movements entail the use of a set of stimuli and learning processes. Furthermore, their social skills (e.g. social organization, tactile and acoustic communications) are also poorly understood although their social interactions appear to be more complex than previously thought. Finally, as for many animals, temperament/personality may play a key role during their interactions with conspecifics and the environment. These aspects on manatee behavior and cognition are important for management and conservation purposes and help us understand the evolution of these marine mammals.