Zoochosis: What It Is And How It Appears In Captured Animals

Zoochosis, also known as Abnormal Repetitive Behavior in animals (ARB for its acronym in English), is one of the consequences of the use of the latter for human entertainment. This is a behavioral pattern that has been observed in captive animals, especially large mammals.

Zoochosis is a term used to describe a range of abnormal, repetitive behaviors exhibited by animals in captivity. These behaviors are believed to result from stress, frustration, and the unnatural conditions of confinement in zoos, aquariums, and other captive environments. The term “zoochosis” is a portmanteau of “zoo” and “psychosis,” highlighting the psychological toll that captivity can have on animals.

In this article we will see what zoochosis is and what are some of its main causes and consequences.

What is zoochosis?

Different species of animals are frequently used for human entertainment and leisure. Environments such as zoos or circuses represent only some of the most common and at the same time most negative activities for the animals themselves and their ecosystems.

Both visual and written records about animals in captivity have shown that, sooner or later, those who live in captivity deal with frustration and a series of behaviors not common in their natural environments. Although it is an increasingly widespread phenomenon, the latter seems to cause such surprise that has been necessary to transfer a term from human psychopathology to emphasize the negative causes of captivity in animals.

This term is “zoochosis”, which has been described as a phenomenon apparently derived from psychosis, or analogous to it. Ultimately, the above means that zoochosis is a type of mental disorder that animals develop in captivity.

The above, however, has not been scientifically systematized, because psychosis experiences have a subjective component important for its description (not just observable); which makes it difficult to translate them directly into animal behaviors.

In any case, the term zoochosis has been useful to study and make visible the negative consequences that life in captivity has on different animals. Currently it is part of the colloquial language where psychology converges with ethology and animal rights activism.

Understanding Zoochosis

Animals affected by zoochosis may exhibit a variety of abnormal behaviors, including pacing, rocking, self-mutilation, repetitive stereotypic movements, and aggression. These behaviors often develop as coping mechanisms in response to the stressors of captivity, such as confinement, lack of stimulation, and social isolation.

Causes of Zoochosis

The root cause of zoochosis is typically the inability of captive animals to express natural behaviors. In the wild, animals roam large territories, hunt, socialize, and engage in a variety of activities to stimulate their minds and bodies. However, in captivity, they are often confined to small enclosures with limited space, environmental enrichment, and social interaction. This deprivation can lead to severe psychological distress.

Some of the common causes include:

• Limited Space: Confinement to small cages or enclosures leads to frustration and boredom.
• Lack of Socialization: Many species are social animals that need interaction with others of their kind.
• Unnatural Environments: Zoos or private collections may not provide an environment that mimics the animals’ natural habitat.
• Monotony: The lack of stimulation or change in daily routines can lead to repetitive and compulsive behaviors.

Signs of Zoochosis

Animals suffering from zoochosis may display a range of symptoms, including:

• Repetitive Movements: Animals may pace back and forth, swing their heads, or perform repetitive behaviors like circling.
• Stereotypical Behaviors: These may include swaying, licking, or biting at the bars of the cage.
• Aggression: Frustration from being confined can lead to increased aggression toward other animals or even their keepers.
• Depression and Lethargy: A lack of stimulation can lead to animals appearing disinterested in food, toys, or social interaction.

How Zoochosis Affects Different Animals

While zoochosis can affect many different species, certain animals are more prone to developing the condition due to their specific needs. For example:

• Elephants: Known for their high intelligence and complex social structures, elephants in captivity may develop zoochosis due to being isolated or confined to small spaces.
• Big Cats: Lions, tigers, and other big cats often pace or exhibit aggressive behavior when confined to small enclosures.
• Primates: Monkeys and apes may show signs of distress by pulling their own hair, excessive grooming, or other compulsive actions.

Examples of Zoochosis

Pacing

Pacing is one of the most common signs of zoochosis, observed in animals such as big cats, bears, and primates. It involves repetitive walking or running along a specific path within the enclosure and is often indicative of frustration or boredom.

Self-Mutilation

Some animals may engage in self-mutilating behaviors, such as excessive grooming, feather-plucking (in birds), or biting themselves. These behaviors can result from stress and anxiety, leading to physical harm and injury.

Stereotypic Movements

Stereotypic movements, such as repetitive head-bobbing, swaying, or circling, are another hallmark of zoochosis. These behaviors serve as a coping mechanism for animals to alleviate stress and boredom.

Addressing Zoochosis

Environmental Enrichment

Providing opportunities for natural behaviors, such as foraging, exploration, and social interaction, through environmental enrichment can help alleviate zoochosis. Enrichment activities should mimic the animals’ natural habitat and encourage mental and physical stimulation.

Enclosure Design

Designing larger and more complex enclosures that offer varied terrain, vegetation, and opportunities for movement can help reduce the prevalence of zoochosis. Enclosures should be designed with the animals’ welfare and natural behaviors in mind.

Behavioral Management

Implementing positive reinforcement training techniques and behavioral management protocols can help address zoochosis in captive animals. Training sessions can provide mental stimulation and promote positive social interactions between animals and caretakers.

Stereotyped behavior in animals

For its part, Repetitive Abnormal Behavior, or rather, stereotyped behavior, has been associated in both humans and animals with restrictive environments (Lewis, 2007). This is why zoochosis has also been described as a form of Stereotypical behavior of animals living in captivity and that accounts for the serious obstacles that these environments represent for their development.

Stereotyped behavior, as well as other behavioral manifestations, have been especially observed in captive elephants, bears, gorillas, tigers, giraffes and orcas.

Main causes and behavioral manifestations

As we have seen, zoochosis or stereotypical behaviors in animals is attributed to life in captivity. More specifically, some of the elements that have been proposed as causes of zoochosis are lack of space, which in turn causes lack of privacy, physical exercise and mental stimulation.

The final consequence of the above is usually self-mutilation and other self-destructive behaviors (Adamiec, 2014). Likewise, walks or walks that follow the same route without apparent functionality have been observed; rotating and repetitive neck movements; immediate and repeated vomiting after eating; head banging against the wall; excessively violent behaviors, both to other animals and to humans (Stephen, 1993).

After analyzing the specific case of elephants in different American zoos, Dick (2016) tells us that limited space creates distinct and severe impediments for elephants to develop naturally actively. For example, in their natural environments, elephants can travel up to 50 miles in a single day, which they cannot do in captivity.

Containment and prevention strategies

Continuing with the case of elephants, Dick (2016) analyzes how some zoos contain animal behavior. Under the argument that elephants “behave badly,” some of them use hooks, whips or wood. Likewise, some entertainment offers to visitors include car washes made by the elephants’ trunks, spraying water with their trunks on cars, and taking horseback rides (pp. 3-4). The same author analyzes the difficulties of feeding them and facilitating their reproduction, as well as strategies to capture them in the wild.

Other strategies used within zoos to control the behavior of captive animals are the use of medication, specifically anxiolytics and antidepressants, although conditioning techniques are also used (Elisha, 2017).

Finally, there are different and increasingly more groups that have spoken out against life in captivity, for example, through laws focused on animal rights, and in evaluating or denouncing the living conditions in different zoos. In some cases it is advocated to improve these conditions, and in others for the return of animals to their natural environment. Likewise, the creation of pedagogical strategies that reveal the negative consequences of using animals for entertainment and as a consequence, their presence in circuses within several countries has been prohibited.

Zoochosis highlights the ethical concerns surrounding the captivity of wild animals and the importance of addressing their psychological welfare in captive environments. By understanding the causes and symptoms of zoochosis and implementing proactive measures to promote enrichment and well-being, we can strive to improve the quality of life for animals in captivity.