Those tortoises kept in enriched environments exhibited more positive behavior than those kept in sterile environments.
The red-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonaria), one of the most popular chelonians among reptile keepers, has the capability to experience long term moods that were confirmed by a cognitive bias test that is an approach developed for humans. The researchers, from the University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom, applied the test to 15 red-footed tortoises. The test evaluates how animals interpret situations, which provide a window in how the tortoises feel.
“Animal welfare concerns are reliant upon evidence that a given species has the capacity to experience affective states,” Anna Wilkinson, Professor of Animal Cognition at the University of Lincoln said in a press release put out by the university. “With reptiles becoming increasingly common as pets, it is essential for us to study their moods and emotions to try to understand how captivity may impact them.”
The researchers found that those red-footed tortoises that were housed in enriched environments looked at ambiguous situations in a more positive way than those housed in bare bones environments. The study also looked how tortoises reacted in anxiety related tests.
“Our results showed that, as found in mammals and birds, individuals kept in appropriate conditions showed an optimistic mood, approaching ambiguous locations more rapidly when these were positioned closer to a rewarded location,” the researchers wrote in their paper.
These tests exposed the tortoises to unfamiliar environments and novel objects. They found that those enriched tortoises were more optimistic in their decision making in the cognitive bias test and exhibited less anxious behavior when exposed to novelty. This, they say reinforced the link between mood and behavior.
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“This is an exciting finding that represents a significant shift in our understanding of what reptiles can experience, with important implications for how we care for these animals in captivity and interact with them in the wild, ” Oliver Burman, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the University of Lincoln said in a press release put out by the university.
The complete study, “Evidence of mood states in reptiles,” can be read on the Springer Nature website.
Red-Footed Tortoise Information
The red footed tortoise is one of the most popular tortoises to keep as a pet. It grows to 12 to 14 inches in length and can live for more than 50 years. They tend to have curious personalities and have an ability to adapt to various climates and habitats in captivity.
