Beteenden och hägnutnyttjande hos stingrockor (Dasyatis pastinaca) i fångenskap

Abstract: Stingrays (Dasyatis pastinaca) are commonly seen at zoos and aquariums around the world. Yet, little is known about the welfare of stingrays as few studies have examined behaviours such as their use of enclosure in captivity. Understanding the behavioural needs and enclosure use of animals in captivity can help us design enclosures, which enhances natural behaviors. Measuring the activity budget of performed behaviours can also provide important information about the welfare of animals in captivity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the enclosure use and behaviour of captive stingrays to get a better understanding of their welfare. Three stingrays were observed at the Skansen Aquarium for three days each, where behaviours such as “laying in the sand” and swimming at the bottom” and also how different zones of the aquarium was utilized were recorded. The results showed that all three individuals had a preferred zone where they mostly spend time performing inactive behaviours. On one of the study days all the rays showed more active behaviours and spend time in several different zones. The reason they were more active is likely because it was a feeding day. Enclosure use differed between the morning and afternoon and there was a significant difference in times they switched zones between the morning and afternoon. The stingrays also used more parts of the enclosure in the afternoon. This was also the time of the day when feeding normally took place. The results from this study can help get a better understanding of the behaviour of captive stingrays.