Environmental Enrichment

Relative preference for wooden nests affects nesting behaviour of broiler breeders

Optimising nest design for broiler breeders has benefits for both the animals and the producers. The welfare of the hens will increase by providing preferred housing, while also reducing eggs laid outside the nests. These floor eggs cause economic losses...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Environmental Enrichment, ReproductionAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: van den Oever, A. C. M., Rodenburg, T. B., Bolhuis, J. E. et al. 2020. Relative preference for wooden nests affects nesting behaviour of broiler breeders. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 222, 104883.

An Enrichment Device for Great Apes

The influence of an environmental enrichment feeding device (puzzle feeder), on activity and behaviour patterns of captive orang-utans, gorillas and chimpanzees was studied at London Zoo. General activity levels and behaviours directed towards the feeder increased for all species when...

Year Published: 1992Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Chimpanzee, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Gilloux, I., Gurnell, J., Shepherdson, D. 1992. An Enrichment Device for Great Apes. Animal Welfare, 1(4), 279–289.

A customised combination of environmental enrichment reduces aggression in CD-1 male mice

Murine aggression has profound implications on animal welfare and husbandry. This report examines how three distinct combinations of environmental enrichment – wheel, igloo and tunnel; wheel, igloo, and tunnel with nesting; and tunnel with nesting – affect aggressive behaviour in...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Veness, A., Galichet, C., Murphy, S. et al. 2025. A customised combination of environmental enrichment reduces aggression in CD-1 male mice. Laboratory Animals 59(5), 588–592.

Managed care of naked mole-rats

Naked mole-rats are a burgeoning model species in the field of biomedical research and are also housed at many zoos throughout the world. These mammals possess many traits that have a large impact on the way that they are kept...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Identification Method, Rearing & Weaning, Relocation & Transport, Reproduction, Restraint, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mole Rat, Rodent

Citation: Smith, M., Buffenstein, R. 2021. Managed care of naked mole-rats. In: R. Buffenstein, T. J. Park, M. M. Holmes (Eds.), The Extraordinary Biology of the Naked Mole-Rat. Springer International Publishing, pp. 381–407.

Interaction with enrichment objects depends on color and increases after feeding in some elasmobranchs but not others

Environmental enrichment is important for the long-term wellbeing of captive organisms and is an understudied topic in aquatic taxa, particularly ectothermic organisms such as elasmobranchs. This study examines how individual elasmobranchs use environmental enrichment objects before and after feeding. The...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Fish, Shark & Ray

Citation: Smith, A. B., Landesman, J., Williamson, L. et al. 2025. Interaction with enrichment objects depends on color and increases after feeding in some elasmobranchs but not others. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106829.

Refining in-cage enrichment for specialized mouse scenarios

Environmental enrichment is a critical component of a high-quality animal care and use program to provide opportunities for species-specific behaviors and redirect abnormal repetitive behaviors. We used a scoring system to review our enrichment for singly housed mice to assess...

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

Citation: Oldham, S., Minton, E., Ford, M. et al. 2025. Refining in-cage enrichment for specialized mouse scenarios. JAALAS 64(5), 968–976.

Five-domain-based evaluation of environmental enrichment in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) to reduce aggressive behavior

Compared with wild troops, Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), which are commonly housed in cage-like enclosures in zoos and laboratories, face limited feeding opportunities, leading to intense competition and frequent aggression. Such aggression often results in injuries, highlighting the need for...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Ogura, T., Kobayashi, M., Miura, A. et al. 2025. Five-domain-based evaluation of environmental enrichment in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) to reduce aggressive behavior. Primates 66(5), 465–473.

Enriching the environment with multiple rooting materials and bedded rest areas improves welfare of finishing pigs

Providing environmental enrichment, including rooting materials and bedding, is essential for improving pig welfare by reducing tail, ear, and body lesions. In this observational field study of Norwegian commercial farms, all farms applied some level of environmental enrichment. Thus, rather...

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

Citation: Ocepek, M., Newberry, R. C., Andersen, I. L. 2025. Enriching the environment with multiple rooting materials and bedded rest areas improves welfare of finishing pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106773.

Environmental enrichment in birds: Physical integrity, keel problems and locomotor responses

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of environmental enrichment on physical integrity, keel damage and locomotor problems in broiler chickens reared in a controlled environment at different ages. Ninety-six Cobb broiler chicks were used, reared in...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Nazareno, A. C., Silveira, R. M. F., Júnior, S. L. de C. et al. 2024. Environmental enrichment in birds: Physical integrity, keel problems and locomotor responses. Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology 12(2), 2024018.

Enriched environment prevents hypernociception and depression-like behavior in a psychiatric disorder and neuropathic pain comorbidity experimental condition

Pain is a multifactorial debilitating condition associated with some psychiatric comorbidities such as generalized anxiety and depression. Concerning pharmacological treatment, which is often inefficient or associated with intense side effects, the physical and social context may be fundamental for patient’s...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Medeiros, P., Medeiros, A. C., de Freitas, R. L. et al. 2025. Enriched environment prevents hypernociception and depression-like behavior in a psychiatric disorder and neuropathic pain comorbidity experimental condition. Physiology & Behavior 291, 114795.