Evaluación del comportamiento de un individuo de Leopardus pardinoides durante su proceso de rehabilitación en la Unidad de Rescate y Rehabilitación de Animales Silvestres (URRAS)

Abstract

This study assessed the behavior of a Leopardus pardinoides individual during rehabilitation at the Unidad de Rescate y Rehabilitación de Animales Silvestres (URRAS),Universidad Nacional of Colombia, aiming to promote behaviors that support reintegration into the wild. An ethogram was developed from camera trap observations, and structural, sensory, occupational, and feeding enrichments were implemented to evaluate their effects on the activity budget. Comparisons between pre- and post-enrichment phases revealed a significant increase in natural behaviors (locomotion, exploration, foraging) and a reduction in stereotypic behaviors. Statistical analyses confirmed significant differences in key welfare-related behaviors. These findings highlight environmental enrichment as an effective tool to stimulate natural behaviors in wild animals under human care. For L. pardinoides, a recently recognized species with broad distribution in Colombia, the results are particularly relevant for addressing conservation challenges such as habitat fragmentation and road mortality.