Jaguar (
Panthera onca)
Care
Manual
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
119
Appendix K: Necropsy Protocol and Tissue Collection Instructions
AZA JAGUAR SSP NECROPSY PROTOCOL
INSTITUTION/OWNER
ADDRESS
JAGUAR NAME OR ID # ______________ STUD BOOK # _________ SEX ______
BIRTH DATE/AGE _______________ WEIGHT ______________
DATE OF DEATH ________________ DATE OF NECROPSY ______________
BRIEF HISTORY (circumstances of death);
SHIPPING TISSUES: PLEASE OBTAIN PROPER CITES IMPORT AND EXPORT PERMITS BEFORE
SHIPPING TISSUES INTERNATIONALLY.
SHIP FROZEN TISSUES IN SEPARATE CONTAINERS FROM FIXED TISSUES.
After 72 hours in fixative, ship tissues in a leak-proof container in adequate formalin to keep tissues moist.
Frozen tissues should be shipped with adequate dry ice to stay frozen for 72 hours. Tissues can be
shipped by U.S. Mail or by courier to:
Dr. Dalen Agnew
Attn: Histo Research
Diagnostic Center for Population & Animal
Health
4125 Beaumont Road
Lansing, MI USA 48910-8104
phone: 517-353-1683
email:
agnewd@dcpah.msu.edu
PROTOCOLS FOR FELID REPRODUCTIVE TISSUE PATHOLOGY AND GENE RESCUE
Please note that pathology protocols have not changed. For any felids in contraception studies or with
any apparent lesions of the reproductive tissue, tracts should still be fixed in 10% formalin, accompanied
by form for the contraceptive studies and shipped to:
Dr. Dalen Agnew
Attn: Histo Research
Diagnostic Center for Population & Animal Health
4125 Beaumont Road
Lansing, MI USA 48910-8104
phone: 517-353-1683
email:
agnewd@dcpah.msu.edu
Contact the laboratory, if necessary, to confirm labeling requirements and/or shipping restrictions.
Jaguar (
Panthera onca)
Care Manual
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
121
Appendix M: Enrichment Examples, Surveys, Problems, and Rating
Charts
ENRICHMENT EXAMPLES (Law, 2009)
Night Holding: A resting platform for each cat. Logs and stumps for scent marking and
sharpening claws.
Outside Exhibit: Usually natural substrate like grass or dirt is preferred (see Chapters 1 and 2).
Logs can be hung, attached, or on the ground. There should be plenty of visual barriers for the
animal to feel completely hidden from the public. The exhibit should
have plenty of vertical
perching for climbing including real or artificial logs, branches or rocks, and various high nesting
sites. The top of the cage should have plenty of natural coverage for shade and security. There
should be at least one water source. A heat or cold rock can encourage
the jaguar to be in a
favorable viewing area as well as keep the animal comfortable in hot or cold weather. Pools,
ponds, and streams are recommended for drinking, playing, and cooling off.
Novel Objects: Objects such as boomer balls and cardboard boxes promote the natural stalk
and pouncing behavior. Small logs can also be used on exhibits for a natural look.
Natural Feeding: “In order to provide opportunities to exhibit species-appropriate behaviors or
otherwise enable animals to work for food, a number of enrichment items can be added to their
outdoor or indoor enclosure and exhibits. It is recommended that large
felids be offered edible
(or other) items on an ongoing but random schedule in order to combat stereotypic behaviors
such as pacing, hair pulling or self-mutilation as well as to add more interest to their daily lives.
Offering items at random is important as felids easily become desensitized; offering no
enrichment on some days may be equally as effective. Food items from non-domestic stock
should be frozen prior to feeding to kill any pathogens that might be present” (Shoemaker, 2003).
Carcass Feeding: Because feeding live mammal or bird prey is not typically desirable or
feasible, other techniques should be employed to provide appetitive or “hunting”
opportunities for managed felids. Providing humanely-killed animals to jaguars can promote
a wide range
of species-appropriate hunting, food manipulation, and feeding behaviors.
Whole animals (e.g., rats, mice), gutted carcasses (e.g., chickens, rabbits), or carcass
fragments (e.g., shanks of sheep or calf) can be provided. On receiving whole or partial
carcasses, many cats exhibit all or part of the stalk-rush-kill sequence (Richardson, 1982;
J. Mellen, personal communication; D. Shepherdson, personal communication). In addition
to the potential for improved psychological well-being (Lindburgh, 1988), feeding whole
carcasses may enhance physical well-being (Shepherdson, Mellen & Hutchins, 1998).
Olfactory: Olfactory enrichment can encourage natural behaviors such as scent marking and
exploratory behavior. Extracts such as spices and perfumes as well as different hunting scents
and animal fur or feathers can be used. It is recommended to freeze items from other animals to
remove parasites. One institution reports the use
of urine from other species, centrifuged and
examined for bacteria, as well. It is strongly recommended to obtain veterinary approval of any
and all animal material before using it as enrichment.
Auditory: Auditory enrichment allows the jaguar to use their excellent hearing senses. Hearing
possible prey animals or another jaguar can stimulate exploratory behavior. A radio can be
stimulating or comforting for a jaguar.
Social: Social enrichment can decrease pacing and add a stimulating change to the day.
Keeper interaction and visuals of other animals are two examples of social enrichment that can
increase the complexity of a jaguar’s day.