Assessing Brown Bear Adaptation in Captive Conditions: Developing a Working Ethogram and Analyzing Behavioral Responses to Habitat Dynamics and Environmental Influences.

This thesis presents an analysis of brown bear (Ursus arctos) behavior within the context of sanctuary-captive conditions, focusing on two pairs of brown bears cohabitating with siblings. Thanks to the development and usage of a working ethogram, the study documents bear behavioral patterns, emphasizing their response to environmental stimuli. The observations were conducted over 140 continuous 15-minute sessions for each of the four bears, providing a comprehensive time budget of their behaviors. The study took place at BEAR SANCTUARY Müritz, involving two sibling pairs of brown bears observed in two different sanctuary enclosures, allowing for data collection on how they behave in different environments. One pair of bears was moved between two enclosures at BEAR SANCTUARY Müritz, while the second pair was translocated from another FOUR PAWS bear sanctuary. This research contributes to the understanding of the complex interplay between behavior and environmental factors, offering significant implications for improving wild animal welfare and management within sanctuary settings.