Monitoring Mr. P's Behaviours - Welfare Wednesday 📋

Have you ever wondered what some of your Toronto Zoo animals get up to after dark? Being a conservation science organization that is home to nearly 300 different species, we are dedicated to providing specialized care that meets the unique needs of every animal – including those whose day begins just as ours ends. As our guests and Wildlife Care staff go home for the night, some of your nocturnal Toronto Zoo animals, like Mr. P, your African Crested Porcupine, begin their day! The Animal Welfare Science team recently used cameras to capture what Mr. P does on a nightly basis to further understand his natural activity cycles and behaviours. The footage revealed just how busy a “night in the life” is for Mr. P as his primary hours of activity were from 7:00pm - 5:00am! Mr. P was seen active in 67% of total videos captured in which he was observed, foraging, investigating, grooming his quills, exploring his habitat, and manipulating objects. To our surprise, he began collecting all types of enrichment items - bottles, food bowls, toy balls, and puzzle feeders into one spot of his habitat. This behaviour closely mirrors that of his wild counterparts, as African Crested Porcupines are known for collecting and storing bones in underground caches. Overnight monitoring gives us a window into the secret night lives of our animals, providing valuable insights that help us make evidence-based decisions to support their overall well-being. Enrichment plays a key role in encouraging natural behaviours, and we use it in a variety of ways to meet each animal's unique needs. For Mr. P, our African Crested Porcupine, that means offering plenty of enrichment items to support his natural behaviour and favourite “hobby” of collecting! #WelfareWednesday