Valutazione dell’impiego dello spazio verticale in un Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in cattività prima e dopo l’installazione di piattaforme sopraelevate

In recent years, enclosure design has become one of the most effective ways to improve animal welfare in captive settings, including zoological parks and permanent residences for animals in sanctuaries that cannot be reintroduced into the wild for medical or behavioral reasons. Studies have shown that animals housed in more complex enclosures display a wider range of natural behaviors, which enhances their physiological and psychological well-being. This thesis will first provide an overview of the biology and ecological requirements of the Ocelot ( Leopardus pardalis ), as well as the factors that have been shown to be effective for the well-being of specimens held in captivity, and will then present the case study developed during the academic internship. The investigation will examine changes in space use by a resident male ocelot at the Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary in Costa Rica, before and after the installation of wooden platforms designed to enhance its arboreal behavior and reduce stereotypic behaviors. The evaluation will be carried out by analyzing camera-trap recordings, which provide the data used to compare vertical space use before and after the installation of the platforms and then to calculate the modified Spread Participation Index (SPI) as modified by Plowman. Additionally, behavioral activities will be evaluated and compared to highlight any changes observed after the intervention in terms of the frequency of stereotypic and natural behaviors displayed.