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Environmental Husbandry Manual Click here for CONTENTS Page No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written permission of the author - For contact details see about the author |
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Individual Methods for
Enclosure Design
Electric Barrier Fence
The methods outlined in this section relate to features of enclosure construction and layout which may be used to enhance the living conditions of animals, including the use of shelter areas, vegetation, viewing platforms and climbing structures.
Electric Barrier Fence |
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| Method | Eight foot high wire fence around the enclosure. Wires three inches apart fed with an electric pulse at one second intervals. Animals touching adjacent wires at the same time receive an electric shock. | |
| Species | Ring-tailed Lemur. | |
| Purpose | To prevent animals escaping the enclosure, and predators such as foxes getting in. | |
| Pro | Electrified wires are far less visually intrusive than solid walls with overhangs. | |
| Con | Cannot put a gate in the fence. | |
| Improvements | -- | |
| Comments | The generator powering the electric fence should be backed up with an emergency battery system. Once the animals learn that the fence will shock them, however, they will generally avoid it. Electric fences make it possible to securely enclose an area without erecting expensive solid barriers. By partitioning an indoor enclosure animals are housed in with electrified wires, they will learn to avoid the fence before coming across it as the only barrier. | |
| Frequency of Use | Constant. | |
| Ratings | Usefulness | 10 |
| Convenience | 8 | |
| Value For Money | 10 | |
| Range of Users | N/A | |
| Contributed By | Primate Section | |