{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,12]],"date-time":"2026-10-12T13:47:04Z","timestamp":1791812824818,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":60,"publisher":"Wiley","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,12]],"date-time":"2026-10-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791763200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,12]],"date-time":"2026-10-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791763200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Zoo Biology"],"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    Captive honey badgers (\n                    <jats:italic>Mellivora capensis<\/jats:italic>\n                    ) are routinely exposed to environmental and husbandry\u2010related stressors that differ markedly from their natural conditions; however, physiological welfare assessments in this species remain limited. This study aimed to validate a non\u2010invasive approach to evaluate stress\u2010related fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations and individual responses to visitors and other environmental stressors in two zoo\u2010housed individuals. Five enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) were assessed for suitability using routine veterinary examinations as a presumed biological stressor. The 5\u03b1\u2010pregnane\u20103\u03b2,11\u03b2,21\u2010triol\u201020\u2010one EIA proved most suitable, detecting increases in fGCM concentrations of 251% and 127% in the male and female, respectively. This EIA also demonstrated immunoreactive fGCM stability for up to 16 days post\u2010defecation under ambient conditions, supporting application to field surveys where immediate sample collection is not always feasible. While visitor numbers showed no correlation with changes in fGCM concentrations, both individuals displayed persistent stereotypic behaviors, suggesting that they had habituated to human presence but remained responsive to other environmental disturbances. Longitudinal profiles revealed substantial individual variation in fGCM responses, with baseline concentrations being higher in the male. Elevations in fGCM concentrations (up to 945%) were associated with construction noise, neighboring animal introductions, and high visitor presence during special events. This validated method provides a reliable tool for monitoring stress physiology in captive honey badgers, with an application for evidence\u2010based improvements in zoo husbandry and future application in free\u2010ranging individuals.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1002\/zoo.70121","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,12]],"date-time":"2026-10-12T13:05:43Z","timestamp":1791810343000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The Scoop on Honey Badger Poop: Validation of a Non\u2010Invasive Method for Assessing Physiological Responses in Captivity"],"prefix":"10.1002","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8198-9492","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Megan","family":"Hutson","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Mammal Research Institute, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1474-7602","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andr\u00e9","family":"Ganswindt","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Mammal Research Institute, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7136-4421","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andrea B.","family":"Webster","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Mammal Research Institute, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_9_2_1","first-page":"119","volume-title":"The Mammals of Africa: Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses","author":"Begg C.","year":"2013"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/s0952836903003789"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/s0952836904005989"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applanim.2014.02.007"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/czoolo\/56.6.728"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_7_1","first-page":"337","volume-title":"In The Biology of Animal Stress: Basic Principles and Implications for Animal Welfare","author":"Carlstead K.","year":"2000"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.15406\/ijawb.2017.02.00016"},{"issue":"3","key":"e_1_2_9_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"306","DOI":"10.1002\/zoo.20396","article-title":"Relationship Between Behavior, Adrenal Activity, and Environment in Zoo\u2010Housed Western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)","volume":"31","author":"Clark F. 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