Research
Progressive zoos not only strive for rescue breeding of endangered species and involvement in nature conservation but also research, especially concerning ethology (the study of animal behaviour) and non-invasive research (observing the natural behaviour of animals without interfering). Part of the scientific activities includes even animal samples, such as fur, antlers or in the case of dead animals, tissue samples. In most zoos, the research is mostly carried out by other institutions, but some zoos carry out their own research projects – the Ostrava Zoo is among them. In our Zoo, the research activities often focus on hippos, deer, zebras, and primates while we collaborate with universities, institutions, museums, and the Academy of Sciences. Regarding the level of research, the Ostrava Zoo belongs among the top European zoological gardens. In the past ten years, 18 studies have already been published in international scientific journals.
Research projects carried out by the Ostrava Zoo:
The issue of plains zebra nursing
The research was completed in 2011.
The Plains zebra is the most numerous wild species of the Equidae family and is very abundant in zoos. However, detailed studies concerning the nursing of this species have so far been lacking. This project aimed to collect data on the suckling of plains zebras kept in Czech zoos and to test several sociobiological hypotheses.
The findings of this research have been published in the following publications:
- Pluháček, J., Bartoš, L., Bartošová, J., 2010. Mother-offspring conflict in captive plains zebra (Equus burchellii): suckling bout duration. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 122, 127-132.
- Pluháček, J., Bartoš, L., Bartošová, J., Kotrba, R., 2010. Feeding behaviour affects nursing behaviour in captive plains zebra (Equus burchellii). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 128, 97-102.
- Pluháček, J., Bartošová, J., Bartoš, L., 2011. A case of adoption and allonursing in captive plains zebra (Equus burchellii). Behavioural Processes 86, 174-177.
- Pluháček, J., Bartošová, J., Bartoš, L., 2011. Further evidence for sex differences in suckling behaviour of captive plains zebra foals. Acta Ethologica 14, 91-95.
- Pluháček, J., Bartošová, J., Bartoš, L., 2010. Suckling behavior in captive plains zebra (Equus burchellii): sex differences in foal behavior. Journal of Animal Science 88, 131-136.
Analysis of the factors affecting the infant mortality of Indian rhinoceros
The research was carried out between 2003-2017.
Despite being the most abundant among Asian rhinoceros (its numbers slightly exceed 2,500 individuals worldwide), the Indian rhinoceros remains at risk of extinction. It can be found in tropical Asia – e.g., India, Nepal and Bhutan. The breeding of the species in human care is dependent on imports from two reservations: Chitwan National Park located in Nepal and Kaziranga National Park in India.
In 2002, Swiss researchers stated that according to the different mortality rates of the calves of these species in captivity, animals from these two reservations should be bred separately. This would cause serious difficulties in the breeding of these species in human care.
Therefore, in collaboration with scientists from Indian Wildlife Institute (Dehradun) and from the Ethology Department at the Institute of Animal Science (Prague), we analysed the factors affecting the infant mortality of Indian rhinoceros in zoos and Dudhwa National Park in India, where rhinos native to both Chitwan and Karizanga have been reintroduced, to test the validity of the proposed procedures.
We discovered that parental origin did not affect the mortality of calves – either in zoos or Dudhwa National park. The mortality was influenced by other factors, such as experience and the age of the mother.
The findings of this research have been published in the following publications:
- Pluháček, J., Sinha, S. P., Bartoš, L., Šípek, P., 2007. Parity as a major factor affecting infant mortality of highly endangered Indian rhinoceros: Evidence from zoos and Dudhwa National Park, India. Biological Conservation 139, 457-461.
- Pluháček, J., Steck, B. L., Sinha, S. P., Von Houwald, F., 2017. Interbirth intervals are associated with age of the mother, but not with infant mortality in Indian rhinoceroses. Current Zoology 62: in press.
Suckling and allosuckling of Common Hippopotamus
The research was successfully completed in 2011.
From the scientific point of view, suckling represents a significant energy investment of the mother towards her young. It is one of the basic types of behaviour that receives increased attention in many mammals. Therefore, it is astonishing that very little is known about the suckling behaviour of such a large and important mammal as the Common Hippopotamus. Ostrava Zoo directed its efforts into observing the suckling behaviour of the calf born in 2007 (M, Hugo, studbook no. T1232). In total, we managed to record 71 suckling in 44 days; on top of that, we confirmed for the first time in the world the occurrence of allosuckling (non-maternal suckling) – Hugo was nursed by not only his mother (Katka, T588) but also his grandmother in 11 cases (Roza, T263).
The findings of this research have been published in the following publication:
- Pluháček, J., Bartošová, J., 2011. A case of suckling and allosuckling behaviour in captive common hippopotamus. Mammalian Biology 76, 380-383.
Comparison of suckling in three zebra species
The research was carried out between 2008-2014.
This is the extension of research project no. 1 which comprises all three zebra species: Grevy´s zebra, Plains zebra and Mountain zebra. The zebras were observed in the Dvůr Králové Zoo and the Ostrava Zoo. Among the stated species scientists compared the following: the termination and rejection of suckling, the duration and frequency of suckling, the laterality of suckling behaviour (side preference).
We collaborated on this research with the Czech Institute of Animal Science, the faculty of Tropical AgriSciences at the Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague and The University of Colorado Boulder.
The findings of this research have been published in the following publications:
- Olléová, M., Pluháček, J., King, S. R. B., 2012. Effect of social system on allosuckling and adoption in zebras. Journal of Zoology 288, 127-134.
- Pluháček, J., Olléová, M., Bartošová, J., Bartoš, L., 2012. Effect of ecological adaptation on suckling behaviour in three zebra species. Behaviour 149, 1395-1411.
- Pluháček, J., Olléová, M., Bartošová, J., Pluháčková, J., Bartoš, L., 2013. Laterality of suckling behaviour in three zebra species. Laterality: Asymmetries of Body, Brain and Cognition 18, 349-364.
- Pluháček, J., Olléová, M., Bartošová, J., Bartoš, L., 2014. Time spent suckling is affected by different social organization in three zebra species. Journal of Zoology 292,10-17.
Species Monitored at Ostrava Zoo
Ostrava Zoo carries out its own research, but also makes research available to other institutions. All these projects are non-invasive.
The following table summarizes the data on these projects since 2006 when we started recording research in our zoo.
Species monitored at Ostrava Zoo from 2006 to 2022:
| Year | Number of projects | Number of institutions | Number of monitored species |
| 2006 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| 2007 | 7 | 4 | 12 |
| 2008 | 8 | 9 | 15 |
| 2009 | 10 | 9 | 7 |
| 2010 | 8 | 7 | 127 |
| 2011 | 15 | 12 | 11 |
| 2012 | 12 | 9 | 12 |
| 2013 | 15 | 11 | 21 |
| 2014 | 9 | 7 | 12 |
| 2015 | 13 | 8 | 13 |
| 2016 | 8 | 4 | 7 |
| 2017 |
7 |
4 |
7 |
| 2018 |
12 |
10 |
10 |
| 2019 |
11 |
9 |
29 |
| 2020 |
12 |
10 |
14 |
| 2021 |
12 |
10 |
12 |
| 2022 |
16 |
14 |
13 |
| 2023 |
|||
These projects are carried out in collaboration with institutions and universities from the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Spain and UK. The most monitored species are certainly primates, then carnivorans and even-toed ungulates.
Scientific publications, which include data on animals from the Ostrava Zoo, are conducted by authors from other institutions.
2022
Pluháček, J., Blahutová, B., Bartoš, L. 2022. A case of male infantici‑de in captive sika deer (Cervus nippon). Behaviour 159: 491–500.
2021
Pluháček, J.,Blahutová, B., & Bartoš, L. (2021). A case of male infan‑ticide in captive sika deer (Cervus nippon). Behaviour, In press, 1–11.
2020
Másílková, M., Weiss, A., Šlipogor, V. & Konečná, M. 2020. Comparative assessment of behaviorally derived personality structures in golden-handed tamarins (Saguinus midas), cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus), and common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). Journal of Comparative Psychology, 134 (4), 453–466.
Pluháček, J., Tučková, V., Šárová, R. & King, S. R. B. 2020. Effect of social organisation on interspecific differences in overmarking behaviour of foals in African equids. Animal Cognition, 23, 131–140.Valušák, J. & Dolný, A. 2020. Zoologická zahrada a botanický park Ostrava jako významné refugium pro faunu vážek. Bulletin Lampetra IX, 1–17.
2019
Pluháček, J., Tučková, V., Šárová, R. & King, S., R. B. 2019: Test of four hypotheses to explain the function of overmarking in foals of four equid species. Animal Cognition 22, 231–241.
2018
Másílková, M., Weiss A., Konečná, M., 2018. How long does it take? Reliable personality assessment based on common behaviour in cotton ‑top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus). Behavioural Processes, 157, s. 59–67.Tučková, V., Šárová, R., Bartošová, J., King, S., R., B., Pluháček, J., 2018. Overmarking by adult females in four equid species: social bonds and group cohesion. Journal of Zoology, 306, s. 180–188.
2017
Moretti, B., Al ‑Sheikhly, O.F., Guerrini, M., Theng, M., Gupta, B.K., Haba, M.K., Khan, W.A., Khan, A.A., Barbanera, F., 2017. Phylogeography of the smooth‑coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata): distinct evolutionary lineages and hybridization with the Asian small‑clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus). Scientific Reports 7, 41611.
