Behavioral Profiling of Timor Deer (Cervus timorensis) Across Age and Sex Groups Under Captive Management in East Java, Indonesia

Abstract

This study analyzed the behavior of Timor deer (Cervus timorensis) across age groups at the Jatilengger Deer Captive Breeding Center, Blitar Regency. Sixteen individuals (8 males and 8 females) aged 1-4 years were observed for 30 days using scan sampling through direct observation and CCTV monitoring. Ten behavior categories were recorded: locomotion, ingestion, resting, grooming, vocalization, defecation, drinking, urination, wallowing, and fighting. Locomotion was the dominant behavior across all groups, with males ranging from 13.24 ± 1,31 to 15.61 ± 1,31 and females from 12.26 ± 1,31 to 16.26 ± 1,31. Ingestion was the second most frequent behavior, with values of 4.53 ± 1,16–7.82 ± 1,16 in males and 4.18 ± 1,16–5.63 ± 1,16 in females. Resting and grooming occurred at moderate levels, increasing with age, particularly in 3-year-old males (resting 5.18 ± 1,17; grooming 5.89 ± 1,71) and 4-year-old females (resting 3.37 ± 1,17). Behaviors such as vocalization, defecation, drinking, urination, and wallowing were infrequent, while fighting was rare, especially in females (0.00 ± 0,05 across all age groups) and minimal in males (0.03 ± 0,05–0.16 ± 0,05). The dominance of locomotion and ingestion reflects active movement and strong feeding motivation, suggesting good physical condition and adaptation to the captive environment. Age related increases in resting and grooming indicate improved comfort and social stability, while the minimal occurrence of fighting demonstrates harmonious social interactions. Overall, Timor deer in captivity allocate most of their time to locomotion and feeding, showing stable behavioral patterns and effective adaptation across age groups.