Other Animal

Effect of feeding environmental enrichment on lesser anteaters’ behavior, space use and food selectivity

Studying behavioral response to management and housing conditions provides specific evidence to enhance animal welfare. Feeding environmental enrichment (FEE) is a powerful strategy to meet welfare challenges. Lesser anteaters’ (Tamandua tetradactyla; n = 7) response to FEE was assessed by...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Asencio, C. J., Eguizábal, G. V., Mufari, J. R. et al. 2025. Effect of feeding environmental enrichment on lesser anteaters’ behavior, space use and food selectivity. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 28(3), 515–528.

The provision of browse and its impacts on the health and welfare of animals at the zoo: A review

Browsers are animals that consume significant proportions of leaves, twigs, and bark from woody plants. These species have evolved morphological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations to subsist on a specialized diet. In zoos and other managed care facilities, the provision of...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Chimpanzee, Nonhuman Primate, Other Animal, Other Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Ramont, M., Principe, N., Prostko, R. et al. 2025. The provision of browse and its impacts on the health and welfare of animals at the zoo: A review. Zoo Biology 44(2), 105–125.

Increasing cage complexity reduces abnormal behaviours in farmed blue foxes

We studied the long-term effects of biweekly rotated enrichment objects and a permanent shelter screen on abnormal behaviour, daily activity, and stress physiology in juvenile female blue foxes (aged 3–9 months). The experiment lasted seven months, from August to February, following...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Ojala, E. A., Valros, A., Mononen, J. 2025. Increasing cage complexity reduces abnormal behaviours in farmed blue foxes. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 284, 106559.

Investigation of food marking and contamination behaviors informs feeding practice in research colonies of laboratory opossums

The laboratory opossum, Monodelphis domestica, serves as a critical marsupial model in biomedical research. Proper feeding approaches are essential for promoting animal growth and wellbeing. In this study, we systematically evaluated food scattering and potential food contamination from feces across...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Lanier, A. L., Schemera, B., Rynders, P. E. et al. 2025. Investigation of food marking and contamination behaviors informs feeding practice in research colonies of laboratory opossums. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science 64(1), 89–97.

Enhancing stress assessment in sledge reindeer (Rangifer tarandus): A pilot study on infrared thermal imaging and its opportunities for advancement as a welfare assessment tool

Measuring immediate physiological stress responses in animals can be challenging; saliva and blood sampling, while invasive, may also generate confounding stress responses, and equipping animals with heart rate sensors is not always feasible. Nevertheless, emerging technologies offer a non-invasive and...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Liehrmann, O., Ollila, A., Lummaa, V. et al., 2024. Enhancing stress assessment in sledge reindeer (Rangifer tarandus): A pilot study on infrared thermal imaging and its opportunities for advancement as a welfare assessment tool. Animal Behavior and Cognition 11(3), 293-304.

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.