Recent research has uncovered many complex cognitive traits and affective processes in many reptile species, such as the ability to make choices that are rewarding or pleasurable. The investigation herein was initiated after many years of anecdotal reports, and preliminary observations, that the two male Aldabran giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea), Wilbur and Little John, at Melbourne Zoo (Melbourne, Australia) would approach the fence-line of their enclosure, sometimes multiple times daily, to "solicit" interactions from zoo visitors and/or zoo staff. Following other research with Galapagos giant tortoises (Geochelone nigra), this experiment was a novel preference test with two male Aldabran giant tortoises to assess their individual preferences for three stimuli: (1) human interaction (shell and neck rubs provided using hands); (2) food (highly palatable carrot pieces); and (3) an "enrichment" ball (a red "boomer ball"). The results found that Wilbur highly preferred human interaction and food over the ball; whereas Little John preferred food, and showed some initial interest in the ball, but did not approach the human on any of his 13 human interaction trials. These results reflect previous published findings, that human interaction is a preferred "enrichment," but is dependent upon a multitude of other contextual factors, and is not preferred at all times by all individuals. Individual variation may be very important to understand to have greater positive effect on the welfare-related needs of each giant tortoise housed in captivity. Further research is clearly required to enhance the welfare and well-being of many types of zoo-housed reptiles.

中文翻译：

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使用新颖的偏好测试评估两只动物园饲养的 Aldabrachelys gigantea ( Aldabrachelys gigantea ) 对三种刺激的偏好

最近的研究揭示了许多爬行动物物种的许多复杂的认知特征和情感过程，例如做出有益或令人愉悦的选择的能力。在多年的轶事报道和初步观察后，墨尔本动物园（澳大利亚墨尔本）的两只雄性阿尔达布兰巨龟（Aldabrachelys gigantea）威尔伯和小约翰将接近围栏的围栏，有时每天多次，以“征求”动物园游客和/或动物园工作人员的互动。继对加拉帕戈斯巨龟（Geochelone nigra）进行的其他研究之后，该实验是对两只雄性阿尔达布兰巨龟进行的一项新颖的偏好测试，以评估它们对三种刺激的个人偏好：（1）人类互动（用手提供壳和颈部摩擦）；(2)食物（非常可口的胡萝卜块）；(3) 一个“浓缩”球（一个红色的“boomer ball”）。结果发现，与球相比，威尔伯更喜欢人际交往和食物；而小约翰更喜欢食物，最初对球表现出一些兴趣，但在他的 13 次人类互动试验中没有接近人类。这些结果反映了先前发表的研究结果，即人类互动是一种首选的“丰富”，但取决于许多其他上下文因素，并且并非所有人都喜欢。了解个体差异可能对圈养的每只巨型陆龟的福利相关需求产生更大的积极影响非常重要。