Reducing bumblefoot lesions in a group of captive Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) with the use of environmental enrichment
Open accessAbstract
Captive penguins are prone to pododermatitis (bumblefoot) lesions due to sedentary habits, changes in normal activity patterns, prolonged time on hard and abrasive surfaces, and less time swimming in the water. Environmental enrichment allows the use of creative and ingenious techniques that aim to keep the captive animals occupied by increasing the range and the diversity of behavioral opportunities always respecting the ethological needs of the species. The main goal of this work was to use environmental enrichment techniques to reduce pododermatitis in a group of captive penguins. Five captive Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) that were showing bumblefoot lesions were followed during this project. To monitor the lesions, all animals were physically restraint 3 times a week over a period of 12 weeks. Environmental enrichment was introduced daily in the water with the goal of enhancing their time in the water for one extra hour daily. The results demonstrate that in a twelve weeks period, four animals showed significant reduction of the lesions in both feet and in two animals the lesions were completely healed. With these results we can conclude that aquatic environmental enrichment allowed this group of penguins to spend more time in the water, favoring the reduction of the bumblefoot lesions.
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Magellanic penguins that spend more time in water have a reduced incidence of pododermatitis.
“Magellanic penguins that spend more time in water have a reduced incidence of pododermatitis (commonly known as bumblefoot) [21]”
From The Benefits of Increased Space and Habitat Complexity for the Welfare of Zoo-Housed King Penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) (2023) · cites this paper as [21]
The Discussion reports that increased time in water was associated with smaller existing bumblefoot lesions in four of five captive Magellanic penguins, and suggests aquatic activity may help prevent bumblefoot. It did not measure incidence of new cases: all five penguins already had lesions, so the claim's incidence wording goes beyond the observed result. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredPool use may indicate a better welfare state for captive penguins.
“Pool use may indicate a better welfare state for captive penguins.”
From The Benefits of Increased Space and Habitat Complexity for the Welfare of Zoo-Housed King Penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) (2023) · cites this paper as [21]
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Research works printed but not linked: 12
- Fowler M.E. (Ed.), Biology, Medicine, and Surgery of South American Wild Animals. Iowa State University Press, Ames.
- Cooper J.E. 1978. Veterinary Aspects of Captive Birds of Prey. Standfast Press, England.
- Harcourt-Brown N. 2000. Bumblefoot, p.126-131. In: Samour J. (Ed.), Avian Medicine. Mosby-Harcourt, London.
- Kleiman D.G., Allen M.E., Thomp- son K.V. & Lumpkin S. (Eds), Wild Mammals in Captivity: principles and techniques Chicago University Press, Chicago.
- Fowler M.E. (Ed.), Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine. 3 rd ed. W.B. Saunders, Phila- delphia.
- Reisfeld L., Barbirato M., Dutra C., Ippolito L., Cardoso R., Nichi M., Sgai M.G.F.G. & Pizzutto C.S. 2010. Reducing bumblefoot lesions in a group of captive magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) employing environmental enrichment. Proc. International Association of Aquatic Animal Medicine, p.126-127. (Abstract)
- Remple J.D. & Al-Ashbal A.A. 1993. Raptor bumblefoot: another look at histopathology and pathogenesis, p.92-98. In: Redig P.T., Cooper J.E., Remple J.D. & Hunter D.B. (Eds), Raptor Biomedicine. University of Min- nesota Press, Minneapolis.
- Shepherdson D.J. 1998. Tracing the path of environmental enrichment in zoos, p.1-12. In: Shepherdson D.J., Mellen J.D. & Hutchins M. (Eds), Se- cond Nature: environmental enrichment for captive animals. Smithso- nian Institution Press, Washington, DC.
- Fowler M.E. (Ed.), Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine. 2 nd ed. W.B. Saunders, Phila- delphia.
- Wallace R. & Walsh M. 2005. Health, p. 86-104. In: Penguin Taxon Advi- sory Group (Eds), Penguin Husbandry Manual. 3 rd ed. American Zoo and Aquarium Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
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Fuller, G., Jones, M., Gartland, K. N., Zalewski, S., Heintz, M. R., & Allard, S. (2023) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani13142312 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“Magellanic penguins that spend more time in water have a reduced incidence of pododermatitis (commonly known as bumblefoot) [21], whereas hatching success for Humboldt penguins increased with greater pool size in a survey of British zoos [22].”
Background
- Authors
- Reisfeld, L., Barbirato, M., Ippolito, L., Cardoso, R. C., Nichi, M., Sgai, M. G. F. G., & Pizzutto, C. S.
- Affiliations
- Aquário de São Paulo, Brazil
- Universidade de São Paulo (BR)
- Venue
- Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira
- Publisher
- FapUNIFESP (SciELO)
- Published
- 2013-06
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 791-795
- ISSN
- 0100-736X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2126819401
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 2.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc
- Locations
- Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Americanae (AECID Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Veterinary Orthopedics and Neurology
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Veterinary Medicine and Surgery
- Keywords
- bumblefoot, pododermatitis, Magellanic penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus, environmental enrichment, captive penguins, lesion healing, animal welfare
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