Factors that promote stress in captive mammals in Brazilian zoos: a literature review

Abstract

In recent years, there has been an increase in societal awareness regarding the welfare of animals bred and held in captivity. This theme has been gaining ground and has been discussed in an increasingly responsible manner in scientific and social circles. However, concern about the welfare of animals kept in zoos is relatively recent, being the subject of major discussions in different parts of the world. In this context, the present study aimed to carry out a bibliographical survey on the main factors that promote stress in captive mammals in Brazilian zoos. The search was carried out in the following scientific databases: Google Scholar, CAPES Periodicals, SciVerse Scopus, and SciELO. Articles published between 2010 and 2019 were selected, and the descriptors used were: “Stress in zoo animals in Brazil” and “Stress in captive mammals in zoos”. After the search, twenty-six articles were selected and used for the study. As a result, it was shown that among the main factors that cause stress in these animals, the intensity of human visitation in zoos, poor environments, and/or incompatibility with fauna and noises stand out. These factors cause behavioral stress that is often stereotyped. Given this, it is extremely important to implement environmental education programs and carry out studies on behavior and environmental enrichment in zoos, increasingly seeking to promote animal welfare.