Environmental Enrichment

Effects of perforated cage dividers on rabbit behavior.

Based on study observations and the natural history of wild rabbits, bucks engage in affiliative social behaviors, but current caging may not allow enough space for the expression of species-typical behaviors, thereby resulting in continued aggression. In this study, we...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Martin, J., Newell, M., Deemer, S. 2025. Effects of perforated cage dividers on rabbit behavior. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 13(6) (November/December), 24-28.

Quantitative assessment of facial barbering recovery in response to environmental enrichment: A case report

Environmental enrichment was shown to delay the onset and reduce the prevalence and severity of barbering-induced alopecia in C57BL/6J mice.1,4 To reduce the frequency of barbering, we provided a multifaceted enrichment scheme to a mouse with severe facial barbering. Herein,...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Sgai, M. G., Zaias, J. 2025. Quantitative assessment of facial barbering recovery in response to environmental enrichment: A case report. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 13(6) (November/December), 21-23.

The presence of substrate as a means of environmental enrichment does not improve the welfare of the laboratory rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus)

Increasing the complexity of physical structure is a common means of environmental enrichment, and it is possible to improve the welfare level of fish by improving their biological function. Although laboratory fish play an important role in the field of...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Xu, C., Cui, Y., Zou, X. et al. 2026. The presence of substrate as a means of environmental enrichment does not improve the welfare of the laboratory rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus). Journal of Fish Biology 108(1), 207–213.

Study on the preference of the Dybowski’s frog (Rana dybowskii) for different covering shelter

Optimizing shelter design is essential for improving the welfare and husbandry practices of Dybowski’s frog (Rana dybowskii). This study examined shelter preferences by testing variables such as material, size, shape, color, height, and tunnel structure. The results revealed distinct behavioral...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Amphibian, Frog & Toad

Citation: Wang, M., Li, Y., Hu, N. et al. 2026. Study on the preference of the Dybowski’s frog (Rana dybowskii) for different covering shelter. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 29(1), 176–187.

Preferential space use exhibited by individual orangutans in an innovative enclosure at Auckland Zoo

To meet the needs of socially complex primates, modern zoo enclosures are designed to include structural, sensory, food-based, and tactile enrichment, as well as opportunities to express the behavioral preferences of zoo-housed individuals. The welfare of captive primates is commonly...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Steiner, H., Malone, N., Battles, H. T. 2025. Preferential space use exhibited by individual orangutans in an innovative enclosure at Auckland Zoo. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 28(4), 703–714.

Autonomy in action: Empowering animal-led choices

The concept of choice is increasingly recognized as a critical component of animal welfare, particularly within zoological settings. Despite its significance, the academic literature on empirically examined methods to allow zoo animals to actively communicate choice is limited. This paper...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Animal Training, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Marine Mammal

Citation: Rust, K., Phillips, W. F., Fernandez, E. J. 2026. Autonomy in action: Empowering animal-led choices. Zoo Biology 45(1), 84–90.

Pecking up optimism: Learning opportunities improve mood for sanctuary-living Cornish Cross chickens

Understanding what influences mood (optimism/pessimism) is crucial in determining whether environments are conducive to positive welfare. This study explores the impact of learning opportunities on mood in Cornish Cross chickens (also known as “broiler chickens”), of which over nine billion...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Animal Training, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Prasad-Shreckengast, S., Holakovsky, J., Torgerson-White, L. 2026. Pecking up optimism: Learning opportunities improve mood for sanctuary-living cornish cross chickens. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 29(1), 25–33.

Environmental enrichment strategies for growing pigs: Effects on welfare indicators and stress-related responses

This study investigated the impact of different environmental enrichment strategies on the welfare of growing pigs under industrial housing conditions. Four groups of piglets (n = 22 heads per group) were housed on fully slatted floors and provided with various...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Lykhach, A., Chentsov, M., Lykhach, V. et al. 2026. Environmental enrichment strategies for growing pigs: Effects on welfare indicators and stress-related responses. Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology 14(1), 2026004–2026004.

Enhancing rodent welfare, cost savings, and efficiency: Implementation and review of data-driven improvements

At the University of Chicago, we have implemented multiple practical, data-driven 3Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement) strategies to improve rodent welfare over the past 5 years. As there are limited publications that outline an institutional approach, this work reviews the enhancements...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Husbandry & Management, Relocation & Transport, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Luchins, K. R., Felgenhauer, J. L. 2026. Enhancing rodent welfare, cost savings, and efficiency: Implementation and review of data-driven improvements. JAALAS 65(2), 159–167.

Effects of partial cage dividers on animal welfare and social behavior in California mice (Peromyscus californicus)

California mice (Peromyscus californicus) are an important model species for studying social behaviors that are not readily expressed in standard laboratory mouse and rat lines. Under natural conditions, this species is highly territorial, and both males and females exhibit high...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Knollenberg, B. L., Dye, A. F., Oakland, Z. T. et al. 2026. Effects of partial cage dividers on animal welfare and social behavior in California mice (Peromyscus californicus). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 296, 106905.