Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM)

 Two feline species, Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) and African lions (Panthera leo), held at Kolmården Wildlife Park were studied.  

The odours were presented to the animals using wooden (spruce) logs with the dimensions 48 x 4.5 x 4.5 cm. A hole with a diameter of 15 mm was drilled near the short end of each log for attaching a metal chain. For each trial, 500 µl of an odour was applied using a micropipette and impregnated upon each of five wooden logs, using ordinary paint brushes to distribute the odour evenly. Only a single odour was used for each individual trial. The logs were then placed inside the enclosure. Each day of data collection lasted for six hours of observation. Three hours of observations were performed in the morning and three hours of observations in the afternoon, between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. An ethogram of log-directed behaviours was used during observation. Each of the four odours (conspecific urine, tiger marking fluid component, fruity odour, and solvent control) were presented five times to each feline species, giving a total number of 20 trials in total per species. All data collection was performed between May and September 2017.

Odours: 

• 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline 
• Tiger and lion urine 
• iso-pentyl acetate 
• Diethyl phthalate