Francesca Bandoli, Giardino Zoologico di Pistoia

Animal welfare encompasses the physical, psychological, and emotional well-being of an animal, as well as its ability to express species-specific behaviours. Long-term monitoring that accounts for changes in animals’ needs over time is increasingly recommended to ensure a comprehensive welfare assessment of animals under human care. This study aimed to monitor the welfare of a pair of rescued European brown bears (Ursus arctos) housed at Pistoia Zoo (Italy) across seasons, through the analysis of ethological and physiological animal-based parameters. The subjects' behaviours were video-recorded over an 8-month period (December 2016 – July 2017). Ten 1-hour observation sessions per day per individual were conducted using continuous focal animal sampling, resulting in an average of 662 hours of video recordings per subject. During daylight observation sessions, weather conditions, ambient temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, background noise, and visitor number were also recorded. Video footage was analysed using BORIS software, and data were evaluated with generalized linear mixed models and the Behavioural Competence Index. Additionally, 167 fresh faecal samples were collected and processed for steroid assays using radioimmunoassay (RIA). Here, we present the results related to the bears’ faecal glucocorticoid concentrations, day- and night-time activity budgets, and behavioural repertoire, and discuss whether and how behaviours varied between subjects and in relation to environmental conditions and visitor presence. Finally, we discuss how these findings informed evidence-based husbandry practices aimed at improving the bears’ overall well-being