Environmental enrichment for neotropcial primates in captivity (2001)

Boere, V.

Abstract

Environmental enrichment consists of a series of procedures that improve the quality of life of captive animals by meeting their ethological needs. Enrichment can reduce stress, while increasing animal well being in captivity. Personnel and animal security are a priority, independent from the goal of the environment enrichment program implemented. Anticipating responses should be considered prior to introducing novel enrichment elements. For most parts, humans represent potential threats to other primates. Growing evidence indicate, however, that interactions between captive animals and maintenance personnel may lead to improvements in daily routines, constituting an important enrichment measure. Primates also seem to develop sympathies or antipathies towards certain people (personal observation), which should always be considered during maintenance routines. The world for nonhuman primates, may seem threatening, capable of inflicting pain and psychological distress, when physiological and ethological needs are disregarded. Animals understand the relationships surrounding them, possibly through conscious awareness of being an integrated element of the world, hoping to satisfy their needs. To grasp this concept is to take the first step towards comprehending the challenges to be faced when implementing environmental enrichment programs.