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Exploratory behaviors describe the actions performed by an animal to obtain information on an object, environment, or individual by using its different senses. Exploration is described in some marine mammals, but not yet in manatees. Our study investigated behavioral and acoustic responses of two groups of Antillean manatees (N = 12 and N = 4) housed in zoological parks toward various stimuli involving three sensory modalities: visual, tactile, and auditory. Simultaneous audio and video recordings were collected during three periods of time (i.e., before, during, and after the presentation of all stimuli). Behaviors related to interest, social behaviors, the number and type of calls produced, and their frequency and duration were recorded and analyzed. Manatees reacted more to submerged stimuli than to out-of-water and sound stimuli, with an increase in approach, social contacts, and number of vocalizations. The proportion of squeaks and squeals call types also varied according to stimuli, and call entropy and F0 range varied according to periods. Our results suggest that manatees display sensory preferences when exploring stimuli, with more interest in manipulable stimuli, supporting the importance of their somatic perception. We highlight the need for particular enrichment programs (i.e., involving submerged objects) in zoological facilities. By displaying social contacts and by producing vocalizations, manatees communicate information such as their motivational state. The increase in call rate, harsh calls, and entropy values could be valid indicators of heightened arousal. We encourage further studies to associate acoustic recordings with ethological data collection to increase the understanding of manatees' behaviors andperception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Fewer than 200 manatees are hosted permanently by zoological parks worldwide. Their living conditions differ considerably from zoo to zoo. Recent research on ecology, acoustics, cognition and behaviour has changed the perception humans have on manatees with implications for their welfare. Using the five-model approach, this study examines our current knowledge on manatees' behaviour and cognition, and suggests ways to improve their welfare in zoological parks. The order Sirenia comprises several species of manatees and one species of dugong. These popular marine mammals are relatively recent acquisitions to zoological parks throughout the world. As far as we know, there are less than 200 manatees, mostly American, a few African, and ever less Amazonian, currently in zoological parks. American manatees are predominantly found in zoos in Europe, North America, and in some Asian countries, while African ones are present exclusively in Asian zoos. The living conditions of captive manatees differ considerably from zoo to zoo (i.e., numbers, sex ratio, outdoor vs. indoor habitats, complex vs. simple habitats). Most research on manatee behaviour has been relatively recent, and studies on cognition, sociality, and ecology have a significant impact on our perception of manatee needs and management, with wider implications for their welfare. In the wild, manatees demonstrated various cognitive capacities; spatial memory and learning abilities play an important role in their daily life in a complex and dynamic environment. Furthermore, there is evidence that these mammals are more social animals than expected. Individuals show various personality traits on the boldness–shyness continuum and their sociality varies. All those parameters are important in terms of animal welfare. Several behavioural studies showed that standardized enrichment programs benefit and ensure the welfare of captive zoo animals. However, obtaining accurate information on the presence of manatees in zoos, living conditions, management, and consequently welfare remains challenging. This study examines the current knowledge on manatee behaviour and cognition and then discusses different approaches to improving the welfare of this charismatic marine mammal in zoological parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a review of the current knowledge related to the cognitive abilities of the manatee, with a focus on the Antillean manatee in situ and ex situ. Following a biocentric approach, we consider the animals' ecology, perception and sociality and we introduce future perspectives on their cognition. Scientific literature on the cognitive abilities of Antillean manatees' is limited and mainly linked to medical training and veterinary manipulations. To perceive and to interact with their social and natural environment (e.g. social interactions, foraging and traveling), manatees use visual, acoustic and tactile modalities that may be involved in a large range of cognitive abilities. Research on stimuli perception in manatees is scarce; however, these animals demonstrate abilities to learn and appear to show long-term memory. For example, to mate and/or to forage manatees travel at medium and large geographical scales; without doubt their movements entail the use of a set of stimuli and learning processes. Furthermore, their social skills (e.g. social organization, tactile and acoustic communications) are also poorly understood although their social interactions appear to be more complex than previously thought. Finally, as for many animals, temperament/personality may play a key role during their interactions with conspecifics and the environment. These aspects on manatee behavior and cognition are important for management and conservation purposes and help us understand the evolution of these marine mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behavioural research in endangered manatees is essential for successful conservation management. We examined the activities and social interactions of a captive group of Antillean manatees located in the Dolphin Discovery Park in Mexico. The group studied was composed of two adults, one subadult and one calf. We determined activity patterns and space use of the manatees in a natural water pool over a daytime period and a night-time period. The behavioural strategies of the manatees included (1) during the day, mainly foraging, feeding, and remaining inactive, and (2) evening activities were divided among social interaction, environment exploration, and resting activities. All the behaviour patterns of the captive manatees seemed to be influenced by the feeding schedule during the day. The number of contacts between manatees increased strongly at night, each individual having a preferred partner for social interaction. The cow-calf dyad showed the highest intensity of contacts, whereas subadults showed the lowest. The relationships observed among individuals reveal a higher social activity than previously described in Antillean manatees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperament, i.e. consistent inter-individual differences in behavior, has been documented in many species. Especially, boldness-shyness continuum is the ecologically relevant trait most frequently used to describe temperament among species. Reactions along the bold-shy axis demonstrate an organism's ability to cope with environmental conditions and reflect its response to environmental stress. Our study investigated the existence of boldness-shyness continuum in 16 captive Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) housed in 2 zoological parks. We first aimed to establish a valid methodology to measure boldness and shyness using behavioral tests. Additionally, our study explored 2 other potential temperament dimensions: sociality and reactivity to humans, and their association with boldness. Finally, since animals were kept under human care, we investigated human perception on manatees' temperament. We conducted behavioral tests i.e. novelty tests involving novel objects, a novel sound, and an unfamiliar human. We recorded behaviors related to exploration as well as social interactions (i.e. physical proximity, social contacts) and we assessed manatees' reactivity to humans through a participation score during hand-feeding sessions. Finally, we collected keepers' subjective impression about individuals' temperament through traits rating method. To our knowledge, this is the first paper that tested manatees' reactions to different novel stimuli in order to determine their temperament. Our results first allowed us to identify the most relevant stimuli and variables to measure boldness and to classify individuals as bolder or shier. Individuals characterized as bolder displayed significantly more approach, longer approach and more contact toward stimuli than shier individuals. Moreover, boldness score was significantly associated with physical proximity with conspecifics, as well as with the participation score to hand-feeding sessions in one zoo. Finally, surveys completed by keepers were reliable and positive associations were found between rated items and behavioral observations. These findings support that as many species, manatees demonstrate boldness-shyness traits. More investigations on a larger sample size are needed to explore manatees' temperament dimensions, and how these traits could modulate their interactions with their conspecifics and their environment. Studying manatees' temperament could help improving the management and welfare of the species under human care. It could also facilitate their management in wildlife reserves by understanding manatees' movements and evaluate the anthropogenic impact on wild populations. • Manatees have bold or shy personality • Boldness score was positively associated with social proximity and reactivity to keepers • Keepers' surveys were reliable and some traits were consistent with behavioral observations • Novelty test seems to be an efficient tool to measure boldness in manatees [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]