All animals follow a circadian rhythm regulated by environmental cues, and giant pandas are no exception. New research suggests that, similar to some humans experiencing seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in winter, giant pandas living in zoos outside their natural environment may face disruptions in both their bodies and behavior.
Conducted by researchers at the University of Stirling, a 12-month study of vulnerable giant pandas in six zoos revealed that those living beyond their natural latitudinal range may experience suboptimal welfare due to a misalignment of their internal clocks.
Much like humans in Scotland encountering SAD during darker, colder months, pandas may struggle to fully adapt to environments not evolved for their species. Circadian rhythms, influenced by factors such as temperature, light cycles, and seasonal food availability, are crucial for animals.
The study found that giant pandas housed outside their normal latitude show reduced activity levels, potentially impacting their overall well-being. Abnormal and sexual behaviors also fluctuated simultaneously, suggesting potential frustration related to migration and mating, which typically occur in spring.
Kristine Gandia, who led the study at the University of Stirling’s Faculty of Natural Sciences, explained, ‘Housing giant pandas in zoos beyond their natural latitudinal range, where environmental cues differ from those they evolved for, affects their behavioral rhythms. Animals synchronize their internal clocks to external cues like light and temperature for adaptive behavior, such as sleeping, eating, or mating at the right times.’
Gandia added, ‘When internal clocks aren’t synchronized with external cues, animals experience adverse effects. In humans, this ranges from jet lag to seasonal affective disorder. Giant pandas in zoos at higher latitudes than their natural range show lower activity levels. The study also revealed similar rhythms in sexual and abnormal behaviors, indicating that pandas may exhibit repetitive behaviors when unable to express normal sexual behaviors, substituting one for the other.’
Using webcams, researchers monitored 11 giant pandas in and outside their natural habitat, observing general activity, sexual behavior, and abnormal actions between midnight and 6 am at regular intervals from December 2020 to November 2021.