Monitoring post-release behavioural activity of captive-bred urial (Ovis vignei punjabiensis) at Togh Managara Safari Park Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract The Punjab urial (Ovis vignei punjabiensis) is a globally threatened wild sheep species. In Pakistan the species legally protected and bred in captivity to release into natural habitats reinforce populations. Vigilance feeding are critical survival, though degree which captive-bred animals exhibit these behaviours post-release has rarely been investigated. We monitored daily of five adult after classifying from 0600 hrs 1800 hrs, replicating each one-hour period twice recording four observations animal per hour. At herd level, vigilance were exhibited equally. Males females invested equal time feeding, males more vigilant (p = 0.001) aggressive 0.010), restful 0.019) or engaged grooming 0.044) locomotion 0.002). Females spent than being maintained high levels throughout day. Patterns resting 1300 1500 early morning late afternoon common for both sexes. Behaviours classified as ‘other’ equally between Our results reveal positive indications balancing threat detection energy acquisition exhibiting activity patterns. encourage assessment survivorship evaluate long-term effectiveness captive breeding candidate restoration programme.