Environmental Enrichment

Environmental enrichment for rhesus macaques: A cost-effective exercise cage

A movable exercise cage for rhesus macaques is described. Within our facility, increased visual attentiveness by other animals, decreased self-directed biting and hair picking, and improved food consumption was observed when rhesus macaques were permitted access to an exercise cage...

Year Published: 2000Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Storey, P. L., Turner, P. V., Tremblay, J. L. 2000. Environmental enrichment for rhesus macaques: A cost-effective exercise cage. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 39(1), 14-16.

Initiating a computer-assisted enrichment system for captive chimpanzees

The joystick apparatus was used without significant decrease throughout 2-hour sessions and across the 3-month duration of the study. ... Food rewards were automatically dispensed upon completion of each trial. Juvenile subjects spent 20% of the 2-hour sessions utilizing the...

Year Published: 2000Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Chimpanzee, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Ross, S. K., Bloomsmith, M. A., Baker, K. C. et al. 2000. Initiating a computer-assisted enrichment system for captive chimpanzees. American Journal of Primatology 51(Suppleement), 86-87 (Abstract).

Freezing assets: expanding the diversity of an enrichment food program

By utilizing itmes which are already incorporated into the daily feeding programs and increasing the practice of freezing, we have been able to add to the possibilities and variety for the enrichment food program.

Year Published: 2000Topics: Environmental Enrichment

Citation: Rice, T. R., Harvey, H., Kayhart, R. et al. 2000. Freezing assets: expanding the diversity of an enrichment food program. Tech Talk [The Newsletter for Laboratory Animal Science Technicians] 5(1), 2-3.

Environmental enrichment for New World primates: Introducing food-irrelevant objects and direct and secondary effects

Group-housed subjects were offered different commercial toys. Findings led to the conclusion that a routine rotation of objects could yield practical and effective enrichment technique.

Year Published: 2000Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Renner, M. J., Feiner, A. J., Orr, M. G. et al. 2000. Environmental enrichment for New World primates: Introducing food-irrelevant objects and direct and secondary effects. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 3, 23-32.

Daily feeding enrichment for laboratory macaques: Inexpensive options

The feeding enrichment options described here are structural elements of the cage, redesigned in such a way that they serve as primary feeders for the daily biscuit ration. Therefore, no extra time is needed to clean them and to bait...

Year Published: 2000Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Reinhardt, V., Garza-Schmidt, M. 2000. Daily feeding enrichment for laboratory macaques: Inexpensive options. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 39(2), 8-10.

King Kong® rubber toys: An effective enrichment device for captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Subjects were tested on one single occasion each when they had access to a toy for 15 minutes. High percentages of use by two chimpanzees adjacent to social groups suggest that the King Kong toy may be an especially effective...

Year Published: 2000Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Chimpanzee, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Ohlinger, R., Schwandt, M., Fritz, J. et al. 2000. King Kong® rubber toys: An effective enrichment device for captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). The Newsletter 11(2), 3-5.

Videotape viewing as enrichment during recovery of hospitalized monkeys

During videotape exposure monkeys did not remove their sutures. Animals that had previously withdrawn from food were observed eating during videotapes showing primates eating.

Year Published: 2000Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate

Citation: O'Neill-Wagner, P. L. 2000. Videotape viewing as enrichment during recovery of hospitalized monkeys. American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) Regional Conference Proceedings, 8-16.

PVC climbing structures & swings

These PVC structures are versatile and easy to make. Not only are they an excellent way to increase primate physical activity, they allow better use of vertical space in cage environments.

Year Published: 2000Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Wallis, J. 2000. PVC climbing structures & swings . Primate Enrichment Network (PEN), Item #: A100.

Maracas for Macaca? Evaluation of three potential enrichment objects in two species of zoo-housed macaques

One group each of Barbary macaques and stump-tailed macaques, both zoo-housed, received hard replica fruits in three experimental conditions: as empty (unresponsive) objects, as maracas that rattled when manipulated (simple responsive), and as objects from which food items could be...

Year Published: 2000Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Vick, S.-J., Anderson, J. R., Young, R. 2000. Maracas for Macaca? Evaluation of three potential enrichment objects in two species of zoo-housed macaques. Zoo Biology 19, 181-191.

Enrichment discussion: The sugar question

Jen, Cobie, and Brooke all agreed that corn on the cob(raw, whole, uncooked - no need to shuck!) is a great form of enrichment for macaques. ... Many do eat the outer husks. Our vet has said that they probably...

Year Published: 2001Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Anonymous 2001. Enrichment discussion: The sugar question. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 40(3), 6-8.