Other Animal

Specifically unspecific – Simple devices as feasible and effective enrichment for small mammals

Although enrichment is an essential part of modern zoo animal husbandry, research on effective enrichment for small mammals is scarce, albeit they are regularly kept in zoos. To develop solutions that are inexpensive, readily applicable, and adaptable for a variety...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate, Other Animal, Other Nonhuman Primate, Other Rodent, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Göbel, M., Kaiser, S., Richter, H. et al. 2024. Specifically unspecific – Simple devices as feasible and effective enrichment for small mammals. Animal Behavior and Cognition 11(3), 305–329.

Maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) differ in their responses to environmental enrichment: Why? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 280, 106432

The maned wolf, a species vulnerable to extinction, is widely found in zoos. Environmental enrichment techniques have been recommended to increase environmental unpredictability, therefore stimulating behavioral diversity, and promoting welfare for zoo animals. However, diverse responses to unpredictability have been...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: de Jesus Matos de Brito, L., Schetini de Azevedo, C., Mascarenhas Ladeia Dutra, L. et al. 2024. Maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) differ in their responses to environmental enrichment: Why? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 280, 106432.

Are you serious? Relaxed open mouth may unveil the competitive/cooperative nature of play fighting in two feline species

Play fighting is a multifunctional behaviour allowing the development of both cooperative and competitive skills. During play fighting, animals perform ‘competitive' actions that are typical of the agonistic context and/or ‘cooperative' actions to avoid escalation into aggression. Several structural features...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Cat, Other Animal

Citation: Demuru, E., Collarini, E., Menon, A. et al. 2025. Are you serious? Relaxed open mouth may unveil the competitive/cooperative nature of play fighting in two feline species. Animal Behaviour 220, 123042.

Weight as an indicator of enclosure suitability in Livingstone’s fruit bats (Pteropus livingstonii)

Obesity is common in zoo animals, and both dietary management and the provision of adequate opportunities for exercise are needed to tackle it. We used 30 years of records from Jersey Zoo to compare the weight and forearm length of...

Year Published: 2024Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Price, E. C., Roberts, A., Bennett, L. et al. 2024. Weight as an indicator of enclosure suitability in Livingstone's fruit bats (Pteropus livingstonii). Zoo Biology 43(4), 295–305.

A survey of handling and transportation of UK farmed deer

Studies on the transport of deer (Cervidae), in the UK, were published > 15 years ago. A more recent study of deer transport is required to allow for assessments and improvements to the transport of farmed deer. Sixteen deer farmers...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Pearce, S. J., Foster, A. P., Knowles, T. G. et al. 2023. A survey of handling and transportation of UK farmed deer. Animal Welfare 32, e30.

Assessing the impact of environmental enrichment on behavior in understudied armadillo species: A case study

The implementation of environmental enrichment (EE) can be effective in promoting zoo animal welfare by enhancing the performance of natural or species-typical behaviors. Research on the effects of EE is biased towards larger mammalian species, with less charismatic species being...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Kelly, R., Rose, P. E. 2024. Assessing the impact of environmental enrichment on behavior in understudied armadillo species: A case study. Zoo Biology 43(1), 100–109.

A fat tailed what?!: Navigating husbandry for the fat tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata)

FTDs are Australian carnivorous nocturnal marsupials, whose diet, environmental needs, and enrichment vary from typical research species. Due to the limited working knowledge on the husbandry and care of this species in a biomedical setting, information was compiled from multiple...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Husbandry & Management, ReproductionAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Powell, J., Collins, T., Beaty, T. et al. 2023. A fat tailed what?!: Navigating husbandry for the fat tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata). Laboratory Animal Science Professional 11(4) (July/August), 46-48.

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Not much if they’re provided with the right enrichment!

Husbandry & Management,Environmental Enrichment

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Brennan, J. 2024. How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Not much if they're provided with the right enrichment! Laboratory Animal Science Professional 12(1) (January/February), 46-48.

The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory and Other Research Animals (9th ed.)

The latest edition of the seminal reference on the care and management of laboratory and research animals. The newly revised ninth edition of The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory and Other Research Animals delivers an up-to-date...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Animal Training, Environmental Enrichment, Euthanasia, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Natural Behavior, Relocation & Transport, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Amphibian, Bird, Capuchin, Cat, Cattle, Cephalopod, Crustacean, Dog, Equine, Ferret, Finch, Fish, Fowl, Frog & Toad, Gerbil, Goat, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Invertebrate, Lizard, Macaque, Marmoset, Mole Rat, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Other Animal, Other Bird, Other Fish, Other Nonhuman Primate, Other Rodent, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Reptile, Rodent, Sheep, Snake, Tree Shrew, Turtle & Tortoise, Vervet (African Green Monkey), Zebrafish

Citation: Golledge, H., Richardson, C. (Eds.) 2024. The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory and Other Research Animals (9th ed.). Wiley-Blackwell. 1040 p.

The agency domain and behavioral interactions: Assessing positive animal welfare using the Five Domains Model

Year Published: 2023Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: All/General, Dog, Other Animal

Citation: Littlewood, K. E., Heslop, M. V., Cobb, M. L. 2023. The agency domain and behavioral interactions: Assessing positive animal welfare using the Five Domains Model. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 10.