Personality and Sociality in Captive Tigers (Panthera tigris)

Aims: In this study we assessed the personality and sociality of eight zoo tigers.

Place and Duration of the Study: This study was conducted over five months at Le Cornelle Faunistic Park (Valbrembo, BG, Italy).

Methodology: A multifaceted approach of observer ratings (rating method) and keeper questionnaires (coding method) was used to produce personality profiles for each tiger. Focal animal behavioural observations allowed the production of time budgets and enclosure usage for each animal. Sociality was measured through Association Index, both for intraspecific (tiger-tiger) and interspecific (keeper-tiger) dyads. Keeper Association Index and eventual tiger affiliative behavior towards keepers was measured during indoor interactions in the morning and in the evening at lock up and feeding times.

Results: All the results outlined a distinct personality in each animal, different levels of intraspecific sociality and affiliative behavior towards each keeper.

Conclusions: We advocate that this deeper understanding of each animal’s personality and behavior can offer practical help to zoological institutions to facilitate daily husbandry, animal welfare, tailor training or enrichment and ultimately increase reproductive success.