Activity, Social Relationships, and Maternal Care in a Bottlenose Dolphin Group under Professional Care

Defining the activity patterns and social relationships of animals can provide valuable information related to animal welfare. Bottlenose dolphins under professional care engage in a variety solitary activities, which may be influenced by conspecifics, time day, maternal behaviors. This study examined social, solitary, behaviors eight at one zoological facility. Data about behaviors, nursing occurrences, mother–calf pair swimming were collected five days per week over ten-month period. The simple ratio index was used calculate association rates for all dyads. Affiliative dominant behavior class categories swim states showed temporal oscillations throughout day. high values within dyads suggested these ties remain strong through second third years life. Preferred associates remained same some individuals both group compositions, while they differed others. However, no large reductions associations recorded, suggesting subgroups continued when other present. Examining sociality levels useful tool continuing improve welfare as groupings environmental factors.