title: Assessing the welfare of captive male giraffes in a bachelor herd using behavioural and hormonal analysis

authors: Grigg, Holly Rachel

subjects: Captive giraffe

abstract: As biodiversity continues to decline, zoos play an essential role in ex-situ species conservation. An animal’s ability to feel pain and pleasure drives the need to ensure zoos maintain high animal welfare standards. This thesis aimed to assess the welfare of four male giraffes housed in a bachelor herd at Hamilton Zoo due to concerns about some individuals’ social and stereotypical behaviour. This aim was achieved using non-invasive behavioural observations and faecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) analysis. 

Behavioural observations and the collection of faecal samples occurred over 12 weeks. Behavioural analysis investigated the giraffes’ social dynamic, stereotypical behaviour, and enrichment engagement. Faecal cortisol metabolite analysis investigated how each giraffe’s behaviour correlated to their stress levels. Faecal cortisol metabolite analysis also included three giraffes housed in another bachelor herd at Gibbs Farm to identify if the giraffes at each institution experienced similar welfare concerns.   

At Hamilton Zoo, the giraffes’ social dynamic was influenced by a hierarchy. The hierarchy was similar to that displayed by wild males and likely reduced social conflict. The expression of same-sex sexual behaviour such as following and investigating also influenced the giraffes’ social dynamic. All four giraffes expressed oral stereotypes with the underlying cause likely feeding motivation. One giraffe displayed pacing stereotypes more frequently than the others. Pacing occurred more regularly before movement to the day enclosure, and there was a positive correlation between pacing and being followed by another giraffe. Therefore, pacing likely occurred due to anticipation or social stress associated with being followed. Foraging enrichment had little impact on the giraffes’ behaviour. 

In the wild, subordinate males often experience higher FCM levels. However, the subordinate males at Hamilton Zoo did not experience the highest FCM levels. In comparison, the subordinate male at Gibbs Farm did exhibit the highest FCM levels. These variations may be due to the different herd and enclosure sizes at each institution. The expression of pacing stereotypes did not correlate with elevated FCM levels suggesting that stress may not be the underlying cause of that behaviour. Interestingly, the dominant male at Hamilton Zoo displayed the highest FCM levels. These FCM levels were likely due to pain associated with his hoof-related health issues. Foraging enrichment did reduce one giraffe’s FCM levels, but additional data would be needed to draw more definite conclusions about this.

Behavioural observations and FCM analysis often provided contrasting results about the giraffes’ welfare at Hamilton Zoo. Contrasting results are not uncommon and they often spark conflict over what defines optimal welfare and what assessment methods are valid. Perhaps the best welfare assessments will be achieved when scientists consider all views and use multiple assessment methods in conjunction. Hamilton Zoo can use the findings from this thesis to guide its husbandry routines to ensure they support each giraffe’s welfare needs. High welfare standards will enable zoos to act as ethical arks that spark a passion for conservation in their community.

text: Assessing the welfare of captive male giraffes in a bachelor herd using behavioural and hormonal analysis As biodiversity continues to decline, zoos play an essential role in ex-situ species conservation. An animal’s ability to feel pain and pleasure drives the need to ensure zoos maintain high animal welfare standards. This thesis aimed to assess the welfare of four male giraffes housed in a bachelor herd at Hamilton Zoo due to concerns about some individuals’ social and stereotypical behaviour. This aim was achieved using non-invasive behavioural observations and faecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) analysis. 

Behavioural observations and the collection of faecal samples occurred over 12 weeks. Behavioural analysis investigated the giraffes’ social dynamic, stereotypical behaviour, and enrichment engagement. Faecal cortisol metabolite analysis investigated how each giraffe’s behaviour correlated to their stress levels. Faecal cortisol metabolite analysis also included three giraffes housed in another bachelor herd at Gibbs Farm to identify if the giraffes at each institution experienced similar welfare concerns.   

At Hamilton Zoo, the giraffes’ social dynamic was influenced by a hierarchy. The hierarchy was similar to that displayed by wild males and likely reduced social conflict. The expression of same-sex sexual behaviour such as following and investigating also influenced the giraffes’ social dynamic. All four giraffes expressed oral stereotypes with the underlying cause likely feeding motivation. One giraffe displayed pacing stereotypes more frequently than the others. Pacing occurred more regularly before movement to the day enclosure, and there was a positive correlation between pacing and being followed by another giraffe. Therefore, pacing likely occurred due to anticipation or social stress associated with being followed. Foraging enrichment had little impact on the giraffes’ behaviour. 

In the wild, subordinate males often experience higher FCM levels. However, the subordinate males at Hamilton Zoo did not experience the highest FCM levels. In comparison, the subordinate male at Gibbs Farm did exhibit the highest FCM levels. These variations may be due to the different herd and enclosure sizes at each institution. The expression of pacing stereotypes did not correlate with elevated FCM levels suggesting that stress may not be the underlying cause of that behaviour. Interestingly, the dominant male at Hamilton Zoo displayed the highest FCM levels. These FCM levels were likely due to pain associated with his hoof-related health issues. Foraging enrichment did reduce one giraffe’s FCM levels, but additional data would be needed to draw more definite conclusions about this.

Behavioural observations and FCM analysis often provided contrasting results about the giraffes’ welfare at Hamilton Zoo. Contrasting results are not uncommon and they often spark conflict over what defines optimal welfare and what assessment methods are valid. Perhaps the best welfare assessments will be achieved when scientists consider all views and use multiple assessment methods in conjunction. Hamilton Zoo can use the findings from this thesis to guide its husbandry routines to ensure they support each giraffe’s welfare needs. High welfare standards will enable zoos to act as ethical arks that spark a passion for conservation in their community.

year: 2021

title: Wittrick-Williams algorithm proof of bracketing and convergence theorems for eigenvalues of constrained structures with positive and negative penalty parameters

authors: Ilanko, Sinniah

subjects: Wittrick-Williams algorithm

abstract: The well-established Wittrick-Williams algorithm is used to derive novel and general proofs that show that the eigenvalues of systems with constraints can be bracketed by replacing the constraints by positive and negative pairs of either ordinary or inertial penalty parameters. It is also shown that convergence occurs from both above and below when the numerical values of these parameters are increased towards infinity. The proofs are applicable in many contexts but are derived in that of structural systems, for which the eigenvalues are either buckling load factors or the squares of natural frequencies of vibration; ordinary penalty parameters are stiffnesses of translational and rotational springs; and inertial penalty parameters are either masses or rotary inertias. The penalty parameters can be used to constrain a system or to impose constraints between systems. It is shown that the use of inertial penalty parameters has several advantages compared with using ordinary ones. Then the pth eigenvalue of a system with n constraints is bounded closely from above by the (p+n)th eigenvalue of the system with very large positive inertial penalty parameters and from below by the pth eigenvalue, when large negative values are used instead. This work is expected to enhance the versatility of numerical eigenproblem methods, e.g. the Rayleigh-Ritz method.

text: Wittrick-Williams algorithm proof of bracketing and convergence theorems for eigenvalues of constrained structures with positive and negative penalty parameters The well-established Wittrick-Williams algorithm is used to derive novel and general proofs that show that the eigenvalues of systems with constraints can be bracketed by replacing the constraints by positive and negative pairs of either ordinary or inertial penalty parameters. It is also shown that convergence occurs from both above and below when the numerical values of these parameters are increased towards infinity. The proofs are applicable in many contexts but are derived in that of structural systems, for which the eigenvalues are either buckling load factors or the squares of natural frequencies of vibration; ordinary penalty parameters are stiffnesses of translational and rotational springs; and inertial penalty parameters are either masses or rotary inertias. The penalty parameters can be used to constrain a system or to impose constraints between systems. It is shown that the use of inertial penalty parameters has several advantages compared with using ordinary ones. Then the pth eigenvalue of a system with n constraints is bounded closely from above by the (p+n)th eigenvalue of the system with very large positive inertial penalty parameters and from below by the pth eigenvalue, when large negative values are used instead. This work is expected to enhance the versatility of numerical eigenproblem methods, e.g. the Rayleigh-Ritz method.

year: 2007

title: Supervision and continuing professional development: Supervisors’ hopes for meaningful, supervision-supported CPD

authors: Flanagan, Paul G.

abstract: Continuing professional development (CPD) is now embedded into the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) practices, such as its members’ supervision, processes for membership renewal and applications for annual practicing certificates. Since its implementation in 2017, a number of developments have been made to NZAC CPD requirements, and in 2020 the process went online. During the same year, six experienced supervisors participated in a small-scale study in which they were interviewed about their experiences of the CPD process and its effects on supervision. The research project was part of a postgraduate paper in professional supervision and worked to introduce and engage researcher-students, all of whom were experienced counselling practitioners, in a supervised collaborative project. This article offers a review of literature on CPD and supervision, and presents the new findings about supervisors’ hopes for meaningful, supervision-supported CPD. The findings highlighted limitations with current competencies for CPD and questioned these competencies as reflecting dominant Pākehā constructions of counselling and therefore, having effects for Māori practitioners. The study also revealed a tension between treating professional development as a requirement to be accounted for and hopes for supervision as a space to reflect on and shape future professional development.

text: Supervision and continuing professional development: Supervisors’ hopes for meaningful, supervision-supported CPD Continuing professional development (CPD) is now embedded into the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) practices, such as its members’ supervision, processes for membership renewal and applications for annual practicing certificates. Since its implementation in 2017, a number of developments have been made to NZAC CPD requirements, and in 2020 the process went online. During the same year, six experienced supervisors participated in a small-scale study in which they were interviewed about their experiences of the CPD process and its effects on supervision. The research project was part of a postgraduate paper in professional supervision and worked to introduce and engage researcher-students, all of whom were experienced counselling practitioners, in a supervised collaborative project. This article offers a review of literature on CPD and supervision, and presents the new findings about supervisors’ hopes for meaningful, supervision-supported CPD. The findings highlighted limitations with current competencies for CPD and questioned these competencies as reflecting dominant Pākehā constructions of counselling and therefore, having effects for Māori practitioners. The study also revealed a tension between treating professional development as a requirement to be accounted for and hopes for supervision as a space to reflect on and shape future professional development.

year: 2021