Behavior and behavioral problems of australian raptors in captivity

Abstract

The behavior of raptors is influenced by captivity, and has clinical relevance for veterinarians with regard to their housing, management, and handling. Important behavioral aspects to be aware of include tendencies towards aggression, stress, habituation, and malimprinting. For Australian raptor species there is limited information available on their captive behavior. Information given in this article about general raptor behavior, behavioral development of raptors, and the effect of human exposure on raptors, can provide for understanding of behavior for many captive raptors, Australian species or otherwise. Comments specifically about Australian species in captivity and their natural biology are given also. The behavioral information presented, plus a concluding summary of veterinary conditions of raptors encountered in Australia, may be useful for veterinarians dealing with Australian raptor cases or raptor cases generally.