USE OF FLUOXETINE FOR THE TREATMENT OF STEREOTYPICAL PACING BEHAVIOR IN A CAPTIVE POLAR BEAR

Stereotypical behaviors are common in captive animals, particularly ca ptive polar bears. Effects of oral administration of fluoxetine on chr onic stereotypical and typical behaviors in a captive polar bear were monitored. Fluoxetine treatment terminated stereotypic pacing behavior , facial tic, and huffing/coughing activity. The expression of typical polar bear behaviors was not affected by fluoxetine treatment, althou gh the proportion of time spent engaged in typical behaviors changed d uring the course of the observation period. Response of the bear to fl uoxetine treatment indicated that pharmacologic manipulation of the se rotonergic system can safely eliminate stereotypical behaviors in capt ive polar bears.