Evaluation of a nutrition program for the species Amazona amazonica (orange-winged parrot) and Amazona ochrocephala (yellow-headed parrot), in Fundación Zoológico Santacruz, with emphasis on the animal behavior in captivity

Abstract

This project evaluated the nutrition program used for parrots from genera Amazona at the Fundación Zoológico Santacruz. The studied group was made up by 5 individuals of Amazona amazonica and 6 individuals of Amazona ochrocephala. Three treatments were established: T1 (conventional diet and methodology offer), T2 (New diet and conventional methodology offer) and T3 (New diet and new offering methodology). The animal answer was measured through consumption, weight and behavior parameters. The 3 treatments did not present any significant statistical differences in weight (p > 0,05). Behavior related to different activities such as foraging, locomotion and aggressiveness had a percentage about 60% for T1 and T2, but diminished to 31% during T3. The consumption was also evaluated in the feeder, which increased from 26,54% for T1, 31,48% for T2 and up to 61,08% for T3. Total consumption in T1 was 66%, in T2 was 79% and 85% in T3. This suggests that the new diet and the new offering strategies showed positive results for the well-being of the animals through the implementation of the techniques designed during this research