Orya and Okara the snow leopard twins
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Orya and Okara
the snow leopard twins
Behavioural biology research in Zoo Zürich
Fabienne Lengen(1995), Céline Mischler(1996), Meghana Mortier(1998), Damaris Vilarino(1995)
Care: Franziska Heinrich, dipl. Zool. Uni ZH, Thomas Winzeler, dipl. Natw. ETH
November 2014 Zoo Zürich
Index
1. Introduction
1.1 Snow leopard
1.2 Question
1.3 Hypothesis
2. Procedure
3. Results
3.1 Discussion
4. Conclusion
Thanks
Bibliography
Appendix
1. Introduction
In this week, we had the opportunity offered by “Schweizer Jugend Forscht” and Zoo Zürich to learn how
behavioural biology research works with professionals; our guides not only showed us the research
process but also gave us also important advice useful for our life and future job.
Our group chose the topic snow leopards; we concentrated on the six-month-old twins, Orya and Okara,
because it is an extraordinary event that Dshamilja, a wild capture, gave birth to two young, who bring
new genetic variety to avoid the bottleneck effect on the zoo’s population.
1
Picture 1: Orya (left) and Okara (right)
1.1. Snow leopard
The snow leopard (Panthera Uncia or Uncia Uncia) belongs to the big cat family and it is native to the
2
Himalaya region in the central-southern Asia.
For this reason, it needs some special features to survive; first, they
have a long, thick grey fur, with black opened rings, called rosettes,
which makes possible to live in a place where the temperatures are
very low. Secondly, they have an unusual long tail useful to keep
balance when jumping and to stay warm. At last, they have big paws
that permit them not to sink into the snow.
The poachers, who want their fur, endanger the snow leopards and
the IUCN estimated that the global population is around 4000- 6600,
but only 2500 individuals might reproduce, because the adults live
alone in a large territory, where they are always moving, reducing
the probability that two mature individuals may meet.
Picture 2: Region where snow leopards live
1.2. Question
Our work focussed on observing if there exist differences between Orya and Okara on their respective
interactions with each other and with their parents, Dshamilja and Villy, but also in the respective
distances that they keep between each other, and also between themselves and their parents.
1
Picture 1: photo taken by myself
2
Picture 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_leopard#mediaviewer/File:Snow_leopard_range.png
1.3. Hypothesis
For our question, we developed a possible answer, which is our hypothesis; it says that between Okara
and Orya exist differences in their behaviour and their interaction frequency, as well as in the distance
they keep between each other and the parents.
Besides, we have developed a zero hypothesis, which we think is not going to happen; there is no
difference in the frequency of interactions and the kept distance between the twins.
2. Procedure
The animals we observed were:
1. Dshamilja; fourteen-year-old, female snow leopard, born in Tajikistan.
2. Villy; eleven-years-old, male snow leopard, born in Tallinn zoo.
3. Okara; six-month-old, female snow leopard, whose parents are Dshamilja and Villy.
4. Orya; six-month-old, female snow leopard, whose parents are Dshamilja and Villy.
To proof if our hypothesis was correct we needed some important tools:
3
1. Binoculars: to observe the snow leopards
and to distinguish the twins by the feature
(one or two spots) on the muzzle.
2. Camera: to take photos for the report.
3. A table: so that we could write down the
data we observed.
(distance, interaction and behaviour)
Picture 3: Okara has only one spot and Orya two
To fill in the table we had chosen to note the data every minute as a snapshot of a moment in a period of
ten minutes, then start again five minutes later to note the data. We defined also the four important
sections and the respective subsections as following:
Behaviour Interactions Closer animal Distance
Closest animal
(between Orya/Okara
and closer animal)
Sleep/Rest: to be Growl: loud noise Dshamilja 0m - 1m
lying, sitting or
Bite: put the fangs into an Villy 1m – 5m
standing still
object
Okara or Orya 5m – 8m
Play: to be
wallowing,
Lick: move the tongue across
more than 8m
an object
climbing,
hunting, push and Clean: move the tongue
biting each other across the fur (themselves or
another)
Eat: to be
chewing
or biting Smell: move the nose
meat
Nudge: to touch other snow
Moving: to be leopard by push
walking, running
or jumping Scratch: pull the claws along
something
No interaction: no visible
action
!
3
Picture 3: photo taken myself
Then we decided to split up in two groups of two people, so that we could alternate between periods of
observation and of introducing the data in Excel. In each group, one had to observe Okara and the other
Orya.
Time Tuesday Time Wednesday
8:30 8:30
1° group observe 2° group observe
10:30 10:30
10:30 10:30
2° group observe 1° group observe
12:30 11:30
12:30 12:30
Discussion 2° group observe
13:00 13:30
14:00 13:30
1° group observe Interview
15:00 14:00
15:00 14:00
2° group observe 1° group observe
16:00 16:00
3. Results
From the data we obtained the following results for the behaviour of Okara (left) and Orya (right).
Behaviour of Okara Behaviour of Orya
Sleep/Rest Play Eat Moving Not visible Play
Sleep/Rest Eat Moving
In these graphs, for each young snow leopard we have picked up 405 data or snapshots (total 810
snapshots).
We can see in the left graph Okara’s behaviour is characterized by 68% sleeping or resting and the
remaining 31% is balanced between playing (11%), eating (10%) and moving (10%). Notice that 1% of
the snapshots we couldn’t see Okara, so it is not possible to say what she was doing.
On the right, we can see that Orya’s behaviour it is similarly to Okara, characterized by 70% sleeping or
resting, but contrary to Okara, the remaining 30% one is not very balanced, because 15% is playing and
the remaining 15% one is split between eating (8%) and moving (7%).
The next step is to watch how many interactions they had; for this we made the following diagrams:
Sleep/Rest
1.Sleep or rest
For the behaviour sleeping and resting,
we have for Orya 284 data and in 98%
of them she did not interact, unlike
Okara who did not interact in 95% of
275 snapshots.
Interaction No interaction
Play
2.Play
For the behaviour playing, we have for
Orya 61 data and in 13% of them she
did interact, so 87% she did not interact.
For Okara we have 45 data and in 16%
she did interact, so 84% she did not
interact.
Interaction No interaction
3.Eat
Eat
For the behaviour eating, we have for
Orya 32 snapshots and she never
interacted.
For Okara we have 41 data and in 2%
she did interact, so the 98% she did not
interact.
Interaction No interaction
4.Moving
Moving
For the behaviour moving, we have for
Orya 28 data and in 11% she
interacted, unlike Okara who did
interact only in 2% of 40 data.
Interaction No interaction
The last graphs we did are useful to see the base of what distance Orya and Okara keep to the closest
snow leopard.
The first one is Orya’s diagram, calculated on 405 snapshots;
Closest
animal
and
distance
The blue columns represent the frequency of the different distances that Orya kept to her mother
Dshamilja, who was overall in 29% the closest animal to Orya. The young snow leopard kept in about
18% a distance of 1m - 5m to Dshamilja.
The green columns represent the frequency of the different distances that Orya kept to her father Villy,
who was overall in 10% the closest animal to Orya. The young snow leopard kept in about 9% a distance
of 1m – 5m to Villy.
The red columns represent the frequency of the different distances that Orya kept to her sister Okara, who
was overall in 51% the closest animal to Orya. The young snow leopard kept in about 34% a distance of
0m - 1m to Okara.
The last columns represent the frequency of the different distances that Orya kept to her mother and to her
sister (she was at the same distance at the same time from Dshamilja and Okara). It is overall in 10% of
405 and Orya kept in about 9% a distance 0m – 1m to mother and sister.
It is important to notice that these data are not calculated in the columns of Dshamilja and Okara.
The second is Okara’s diagram calculated on 405 snapshots;
Closest
animal
and
distance
The blue columns represent the frequency of the different distances that Okara kept to her mother
Dshamilja, who was overall in 38% the closest animal to Okara. The young snow leopard kept in about
21% a distance of 1m - 5m to Dshamilja.
The green columns represent the frequency of the different distances that Okara kept to her father Villy,
who was overall in 1% the closest animal to Okara. The young snow leopard kept in about 1% a distance
of 1m - 5m to Villy.
The red columns represent the frequency of the different distances that Okara kept to her sister Orya, who
was overall in 57% the closest animal to Okara. The young snow leopard kept in about 39% a distance of
0m - 1m to Orya.
The last columns represent the frequency of the different distances that Okara kept to her mother and to
her sister (she was at the same distance at the same time from Dshamilja and Orya). It is overall in 3% of
405 and Okara kept in about 2% a distance of 0m – 1m to mother and sister.
It is important to notice that these data are not calculated in the columns of Dshamilja and Orya and that
there is 1%, where we do not know what happened
3.1. Discussion
From the results, we can observe that both twins sleep or rest around in 70%, but there is a little
difference between Orya and Okara, which is the distribution of the remaining 30% in the other three
sections (play, eat, moving); by Okara every section is 10 or 11%, unlike Orya the section playing is 15%
and the others 7 or 8%.
In the frequency of interactions, the results show that the twins often do not have any interaction with the
other snow leopards, also when they are playing, as well that Okara and Orya behaviour patterns are very
similar. The most relevant difference is that Orya interacts more when she is moving (11%) than Okara
(2%).
With the last diagrams, we can see there exist some differences between the young snow leopards, for
example Okara stays more in a distance 1m – 5m to her mother (21%) than Orya (18%), but we have to
consider that Orya at the same time stays closer to Dshamilja and Okara (10%).
We can also notice Orya stays closer to Villy (10%) than Okara does (1%) and that Okara sometimes
keeps a distance between 5m-8m and more than 8m, for example she stays in this two distances to her
mother in 8% of 405 snapshots, in comparison to Orya (5%).
The results in general demonstrate that the twins interact more with each other, with Dshamilja and not
with Villy, but it is normal, since in nature the father does not live with them and the young stay for one
or two years with their mother.
Besides, the results are not very exact, because we had the problem of writing down the data at the same
time and we had to estimate the distances, so there was a margin of error.
We can not say that our hypothesis is true, because the young snow leopards are similar although there
are little differences, which are not enough to proof our hypothesis and we can not say either that our zero
hypothesis is true, because there exist some differences between Orya and Okara, so we could not answer
our question.
4. Conclusion
Our work was focused on the question if there exists differences between the snow leopards twins in their
interactions and distances, which they keep with each other and with their parents, so the results, we
obtained, answer our question only partly, because our hypothesis could not be actually proofed since
there are some differences between Okara and Orya, but they are not significant enough and for this
reason we could not say either that the zero hypothesis was true or false. Besides, we could see that Okara
and Orya are always closer together and also to Dshamilja and this is an event that happens in nature, so
they behave in a natural way even though they are living in a zoo.
It would be interesting to observe the snow leopards a longer time and also at night, so we would see if
there are different behaviour patterns and to find out if our hypothesis would be proofed with more data.
Thanks
We want to thank “Schweizer Jugend Forscht” and Zoo Zürich, who have made possible for us to do this
wonderful and interesting experience; also to thank Kurt Amacher, who takes the time to answer with
many useful details our questions.
We thank specially Franziska Heinrich and Thomas Winzeler, because they have guided us in this
experience by giving advice and explaining important things for such a work.
Bibliography
Internet
• http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schneeleopard
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_leopard
• http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22732/0
• http://www.zoo.ch/xml_1/internet/de/application/d1/d1970/d294/f1454.cfm?id=1 24.11.2014
Books
• The Encyclopaedia of Mammals
Appendix
Interview
The interview was with Kurt Amacher, who is the zoo snow leopard keeper, and was held on Wednesday
26.11.2014 in Zoo Zürich.
1)Kann man Orya und Okara auch noch anders unterscheiden, nicht nur mit den Punkten?
Ja, es gibt auch von der Zeichnung her über den Augen, für mich, eine Markierung die total verschieden
ist. Die Punkte neben der Nase sind schwierig zu erkennen, aber wenn ich die Tiere frontal sehe, weiss
ich welches Tier es ist. Okara hat zwei schöne Spitzen, Dreiecke, über den Augen. Orya hat über den
Augen mit viel Fantasie ein Herz.
2)Haben Orya und Okara sich gleich schnell entwickelt? Wenn nein, was waren die Unterschiede?
Am Anfang war es so, dass Okara aufgeweckter war. Sie hat immer schnell alles selbst erforscht. Orya
war immer etwas zurückhaltend, bis sie dann sicher war, dass nicht passiert. Danach ging sie aber auch an
die Sache.
3)Wie lange schlafen Orya und Okara im Durchschnitt am Tag? Hat es sich mit der Zeit verändert
oder ist es konstant geblieben?
Es ist so, dass Katzen generell lang schlafen, wie z.b die Hauskatze. Katzen schlafen im Durchschnitt 15-
18 Stunden. Bei Jungtieren ist es sogar noch mehr. Mit der Zeit wurden sie wacher. Der Schneeleopard ist
eher dämmerungsaktiv und von dem her ist es wahrscheinlich so, dass er während dem Tag nicht viel
macht und am Abend oder in der Nacht aktiver wird.4)Wie sieht die Beziehung der Jungen zu den Eltern aus? Zu Vater und Mutter gleich? Die Beziehung zur Mutter ist sicher enger als zum Vater, aber grundsätzlich ist die Beziehung zum Vater auch gut. Im Zoo ist es nicht ganz natürlich, da der Vater bei den Jungtieren bleibt, aber wir sind eigentlich froh, dass das so gut funktioniert. Die Mutter akzeptierte den Vater vom ersten Tag an in der Wurfbox und dass ist sicher immer ein gutes Zeichen. Die Bindung zur Mutter ist aber sicher grösser als die zum Vater. 5)Ist eine solche Beziehung in der Natur gleich oder ist das nur im Zoo so? Siehe Frage 4 6)Wissen sie schon was mit Orya und Okara in zwei Jahren passiert, wenn sie den Zoo verlassen werden? Sie werden in einen anderen Zoo wechseln. Das wir ungefähr in einem Jahr sein. Wo genau sie hingehen wissen wir noch nicht, aber sie werden höchstwahrscheinlich nicht an den gleichen Ort kommen. Das wird dann vom europäischen Zuchtprogramm organisiert, es werden dann entsprechende Plätze gesucht. Die Jungtiere von Dhamilja sind überall begehrt, da sie frisches Blut mitbringen. Es war das erste Mal, dass sie Zwillinge bekam. Es ist nicht so, dass es in Europa sehr viele Nachkommen aus dem Zoo Zürich gibt, deshalb wird es sicher Abnehmer für die beiden geben. 7)Wir haben gesehen wie das Gehege gesäubert wurde und haben uns gefragt wo die Schneeleoparden hin gehen? Wie sieht ihr Innengehege aus? Es hat ein kleines Abtrenngehege und hinter dem Felsen gibt es noch einen Tunnel, von wo aus sie direkt in einen Vorhof kommen und auch in den Stall könnten. Der Stall ist aber meisten zu. Wir holen sie mit dem Schieber ins Innengehege. Wir klopfen zwei, drei Mal und lassen ihn fallen, so dass sie es hören. Das lernen die Tiere von klein auf und sie wissen, dass dann der Pfleger etwas von ihnen will. Ob sie dann kommen oder nicht, dass ist ihre eigene Entscheidung, aber sie bekommen einfach eine kleine Belohnung. So können wir die Tiere auch genauer anschauen, die Augen, die Nasen. Wir schauen ob alles in Ordnung ist, das ist ein gutes Mittel die Tiere in den Hintergrund zu bekommen, aber auch um sie ein bisschen aus der Nähe anschauen zu können. Das funktioniert im Winter besser als im Sommer. Wenn sie nicht kommen, bekommen sie auch nichts zu fressen. Man muss aber auch differenzieren, warum die Tiere nicht „laufen“, wir nennen das so. Es kann sein, dass äussere Faktoren da mitspielen z.B ein Helikopter. Wenn sie dann nicht kommen, darf man sie nicht dafür bestrafen, weil sie eigentlich nichts dafür können. 8) Sind Okara und Orya beim Fressen suchen auf Dshamilja angewiesen? Nein, eigentlich nicht, aber sie lassen sich gerne bedienen. Wenn wir Laubsäcke aufhängen, reissen sie sie selber auf. Warum sie das mit den Säcken mit den Fressen nicht machen, weiss ich nicht. Es gibt auch andere Tiere wie z.B der Löwe, der den Sack auch nicht aufreisst. Obwohl es mit ihren Krallen eigentlich kein Problem sein sollte. Die Futtersäcke und auch das Verteilen von Fleischstücken sind zur Beschäftigung gedacht. An dem Tag, an dem es kein Futter gibt, versuchen wir sie zu beschäftigen. Wir verteilen Fleischstücke, abreiten mit Parfum, hängen Kuh-Felle auf, verteilen fremden Kot. 9) Kann es sein, dass der Vater die Kleinen wenn sie reif sind, besamen kann? Kommt das vor? Wie wird das im Zoo verhindert? Er könnte es und wenn wir die Tiere länger behalten würden, könnte es zu Inzucht kommen oder er würde sie vertreiben. In der Natur ist es auch so, dass sie mit etwa anderthalb jährig von der Mutter vertrieben wird. Da wir die Tiere mit nach zwei Jahren in einen anderen Zoo geben, können wir Inzucht verhindern.
Table
1. Chart legend
Behaviour Interaction Closest animal Distance
1) Sleep/Rest 1) Growl 1) Dshamilja 1) 0-1m
2) Play 2) Lick 2) Villy 2) 1-5m
3) Eat 3) Nudge 3) Orya or Okara 3) 5-8m
4) Moving 4) Bite 4) 8< m
5) Clean
6) No interaction
7) Smell
8) Scratch
2. Example
Orya
Zeit
Verhalten
Interaktionen
zum
Nächsten
Tier
Distanz
8:40
2
8
1
1
8.41
1
6
1
2
Okara
Zeit
(pro
min)
Verhalten
Interaktionen
zum
Nächsten
Tier
Distanz
8:40
4
6
1
2
8:41
1
5
1
2
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