Hyderabad: The Himalayan black bear in the Nehru Zoological Park here exhibits a stereotypy (swaying head from one side to another) which experts say is a sign of anxiety.
Speaking to visitors, an expert said, while it's amusing for people to see animals exhibit stereotypy in the zoo. For an animal behaviour expert, it’s a disorder. The animal looks distressed.
Dr Prayag H.S, former wildlife veterinarian at Mysore Zoo, said, the stereotypic behaviour in captive wild animals, standing in one place and swaying the head from side to side continuously indicates that it's bored by the lack of enrichment for animals. It should be engaged with some activities and not kept alone for public display.
“We have two Himalayan black bears for public display. We only keep one at a time until they are sent inside. Sometimes they fight and injure each other so we keep them separated. All animals are given adequate care. We are also planning better treatment,” curator of Nehru Zoological Park, Sunil Hiremath, said.
These bears live in the Himalayas and are found in hilly regions of northeastern states. They prefer living in dense forests.
