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3.3 Survival Behaviours ‘Lost’ in Captivity 39

Soft release techniques may allow animals
VetBooks.ir more time to learn about the new environ- more courtship behaviour. We may expect that
fish that display higher levels of courtship
ment around them and behaviourally adapt
higher stocking densities might be more suc-
accordingly. For example, in bird studies in behaviour are advantaged. Thus fish reared in
particular, early dispersal from the release cessful if included in release programmes, as
site is cited as a reason for reintroduction more courtship behaviours and greater aggres-
failure as the birds do not have the time to sion directed at rivals would potentially lead to
form pair bonds (Wang et al. 2017). Crested more and/or better mates which would lead to
ibis (Nipponia nippon) under soft release greater inclusive fitness. However those fish
conditions remained closer to the release site which perform elaborate courtship displays
and flocked more rapidly, compared to those and territorial fights, are also at risk of higher
birds which were reintroduced using the detection by predators. Therefore as the
hard release technique; it is suggested that author concluded, captive‐rearing conditions
both behaviours seen at soft release might which promote the development of risk
offer a social advantage, in terms of facilitat- adverse behaviours, in this case fewer courtship
ing the acquisition of mates (Wang et al. and aggressive displays, would be favoured for
2017). Interestingly in this example the sur- reintroduction (Kelley et al. 2005).
vival rates of the two groups of birds remained The ultimate social indicator as to whether
similar, which poses the question of whether reintroductions have been successful is the
soft release programmes are important for ability of the reintroduced animals to repro-
encouraging habitat and social behaviours duce. A review of artic fox (Vulpes lagopus)
but may not result in a direct survival benefit reintroductions since 2015 showed that the
for the released individuals. release of 385 individuals (over the course of
7 years) had resulted in 3 stable populations
and most importantly, estimations that the
3.3.3 Social Behaviour
number of wild‐born pups descended from
The main issue relating to how social behav- captive individuals had exceeded 600 (Landa
iour negatively effects reintroduction success et al. 2017). Artic fox introduction sites
seems to revolve around reintroduced animals included artificial dens and food dispensers;
inappropriately responding to social cohorts; methods of provisioning which appear to
responding to conspecifics with inadequate convey benefit in allowing the artic foxes
courtship behaviour which limits breeding time to learn about their new environment
opportunities, or engaging in aggression with through soft release.
superior adversaries potentially ending in
fatality. The importance of captive rearing con- 3.3.4 Feeding and Foraging
ditions on the exhibition of appropriate social
behaviour has been demonstrated in the The development of inadequate foraging and
endangered Mexican fish (Skiffia multipunc- feeding strategies is another key behavioural
tata; Kelley et al. 2005). Fish raised in labora- deficiency reported to lead to either success
tory conditions (indoor aquaria), were or failure in reintroduction programmes. For
observed to exhibit more courtship behav- the same reason that antipredator behaviour
iours, and were generally more aggressive is so essential for successful reintroduction,
towards competitors, than their counterparts so too it is imperative that animals do learn
raised in semi‐natural conditions (outdoor how to obtain and process food resources;
ponds), either in single taxa or mixed taxa without these vital survival behaviours the
groups. This difference in behaviour is poten- ultimate negative consequence occurs, death.
tially due to higher stocking densities in labo- Released animals can differ from wild coun-
ratory conditions, therefore males were more terparts in relatively simple aspects of feed-
likely to encounter females and thus display ing and foraging such as the time of day they