Manuscript Abstract

BEHAVIORAL DYNAMICS OF CAPTIVE BLUE BULLS (Boselaphus tragocamelus): IMPACTS OF SEASONALITY, GENDER, AND VISITOR INTERACTION ON WELFARE AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
Hakim Bibi, Aim Iram Batool, Muhammad Fayyaz Ur Rehman, Misbah Sarwar, Saira Naz, Mohamed Mohany, Syed Sikandar Habib

H. Bibi¹, A. I. Batool², M. F. U. Rehman³, M. Sarwar⁴, S. Naz⁵, M. Mohany⁶, S. S. Habib⁷*

¹ Department of Zoology, University of Sargodha, 40100, Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan,
² Department of Zoology, University of Sargodha, 40100, Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan,
³ Department of Chemistry, University of Sargodha Punjab, Pakistan,
⁴ Wildlife Research Centre, Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department, 38000, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan,
⁵ Centre for Research on Fish Nutrition and Environmental Ecology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China,
⁶ Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 55760, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia,
⁷ Department of Zoology, University of Sargodha, 40100, Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan,

Corresponding Author: sikandarzoo00@yahoo.com
Page Number(s): 819-827
Published Online First: May 17, 2025
Publication Date: June 26, 2025
ABSTRACT

The Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus), an endangered species in Pakistan, faces challenges in captivity due to limited research on behavioral dynamics and the impact of visitor interactions. This study examines seasonal and visitor-induced variations in the activity budgets of captive Blue bulls across four zoological facilities in Punjab, Pakistan, over a year. Detailed behavioral observations were conducted, capturing feeding, resting, social, and reproductive activities. Visitor density and behaviors were recorded to assess their influence on animal welfare. Results revealed distinct seasonal patterns, with increased feeding and drinking during autumn and heightened social and reproductive behaviors in winter. Visitor presence significantly altered behavior, with higher visitor numbers correlating with increased activity and social interactions but reduced resting times. These findings emphasize the critical need for season-specific enrichment and strategic visitor management to enhance animal welfare. This study provides actionable insights for optimizing zoo management practices and advancing conservation efforts for this endangered species.

Keywords: captive blue bull, behavioral ecology, seasonal behavior, animal welfare, Visitor effects
Open Access: This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).


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