Research overview: hung and bungee carcass feeding and fecal glucocorticoids in zoo felids

Hung carcasses and bungee-suspended food are used to encourage captive cats to pull, leap and feed in physically demanding, naturalistic ways. This overview surveys studies that pair such feeding enrichment with non-invasive faecal glucocorticoid metabolite monitoring to test whether increased activity is accompanied by changes in physiological stress. It discusses why behavioural activation does not always map cleanly onto hormone changes, the importance of baseline and lag times in faecal sampling, and species differences in response. It also considers how anticipation of suspended-food sessions can drive pre-feeding pacing. The overview frames how keepers can evaluate feeding enrichment using combined behavioural and endocrine measures rather than activity counts alone.