Frustration of Fur-farmed Mink

The given study assesses the impact of different constraints on caged mink living on fur farms. Researches put forward an idea that fur-farmed mink experience serious difficulties adapting to captivity. This idea greatly differs from the widely accepted notion according to which caged mink species are well adapted to their artificial environment of fur farms. New concept that was proposed points out that in order to lead successful life mink require performing natural activities such as diving, swimming, searching for and hunting prey. Preventing these animals from the mentioned above activities leads to feeling of frustration in mink. To determine whether provided assumption is true an experiment was conducted. Performed experiment consisted of two parts and each part was focused on different issues. In the first part of the experiment sixteen mink were observed. They were placed in cages and provided with additional facilities (place for swimming, resting, nesting; objects to play or manipulate with and others). During seven days animals had to make more and more efforts so that to reach desirable facilities because entrance doors were made heavier and heavier. The results obtained from the first part of the experiment showed that among seven resource compartments mink perceived the water pool as the most desirable destination. In the second part of the experiment fourteen mink were monitored with the aim to define their level of cortisol hormone in urine and, consequently, to determine deprivation of which of the four sources creates the greatest stress for caged mink. Cortisol is released in a case when animal is under the stress. Researchers created special conditions for tested mink: they limited the access for one day to each of the selected four sources including food and observed lack of which of the resources creates the greatest discomfort and frustration to caged mink. The most obvious finding to emerge from this part of the investigation is that mink in captivity mainly experience difficulties when are kept out of food or swimming. Animals would not suffer if their access to alternative nest site or empty compartment was limited. In addition, during the experiment it was showed that there is correlation between hormone secretion and a rise in physical activity of the animals. Having no access to one of the sources mink showed increased activity. Findings of both parts of the experiment provide evidence that there is reason behind the assumption that fur-farmed mink are affected by their limited environment and feel depressed if the access to certain sources (such as food or swimming pool) is denied. Overall, the results of the study support the prediction that in captivity these animals are motivated to act in the same way as wild mink species do. Swimming pool was determined as the most valuable resource for mink - denied access to it resulted in an increased level of hormone (cortisol) which is released due to the stress. Taken together, these findings advocate an assertion that mink housed in cages on fur farms feel frustrated …