Environmental Enrichment

Survey of environmental enhancement programs for laboratory primates

Here we report the results of a 2003 survey that was sent to individuals overseeing enrichment programs at a variety of primate research institutions. Data were obtained on the management of 35,863 primates in 22 facilities. While most primates were...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Baker, K. C., Weed, J. L., Crockett, C. M. et al. 2007. Survey of environmental enhancement programs for laboratory primates. American Journal of Primatology 69(4), 377-394.

The effects of increased space, complexity and choice, together with their loss, on the behavior of a family group of Callithrix jacchus: A case study

In conclusion, enhanced levels of space, complexity and choice may have a positiveinfluence on the behavior of family-housed marmosets. Moreover, the loss of a larger and more complex enclosure might have detrimental effects on the behavior and the social interactions...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Badihi, I., Morris, K., Buchanan-Smith, H. M. 2007. The effects of increased space, complexity and choice, together with their loss, on the behavior of a family group of Callithrix jacchus: A case study. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 46(4), 1-2.

Enrichment and primate centers: Closing the gap between research and practice

Facilities with thorough IACUC reviews of enrichment issues provided social housing for a significantly larger proportion of primates in biomedical research studies than did those with rare IACUC reviews.

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Baker, K. C. 2007. Enrichment and primate centers: Closing the gap between research and practice. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 10(1), 49-54.

Investigation of different methods of food delivery as enrichment for singly housed male Gottingen Minipigs

The minipigs spent a significant amount of time interacting with the Canac Ball (ball filled with food). Overall the results showed that the minipigs showed a continuous interest in the Canac Ball, proving that it is a successful enrichment device.Scattering...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Beale, C., King, L., Young, B. 2007. Investigation of different methods of food delivery as enrichment for singly housed male Gottingen Minipigs. Animal Technology and Welfare 6(1), 33-36.

Do mice benefit from prefabricated dwellings? A discussion by the Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum

I conclude from our discussion that commercial prefabricated dwellings for mice are useful only if they are made of GLP-accepted material that the animals can readily gnaw and convert into nesting and bedding material. Since mice have a biologically inherent...

Year Published: 2006Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Barley, J., Francis, R., Van Loo, P. et al. 2006. Do mice benefit from prefabricated dwellings? A discussion by the Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum. Animal Technology and Welfare 5(1), 13-15.

Environmental enrichment alters the behavioral profile of ratsnakes (Elaphe)

This study investigated the effects of environmentally enriched and standard laboratory housing conditions on behavioral performance in 16 subadult ratsnakes (Elaphe obsoleta) using a split-clutch design. In a problem-solving task, snakes housed in enriched environments (EC) exhibited shorter latencies to...

Year Published: 2006Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Reptile, Snake

Citation: Almli, L. M., Burghardt, G. M. 2006. Environmental enrichment alters the behavioral profile of ratsnakes (Elaphe). Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 9(2), 85-109.

Use of environmentally enriched housing for rats with spinal cord injury: the need for standardization

In the present study, environmental enrichment did not improve the locomotion of rats with contusion thoracic SCI. Determining the effectiveness of environmental enrichment to improve locomotor recovery in the SCI model requires standardization of housing procedures, outcome measures, and analyses.

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Burke, D. A., Magnuson, D. S. K., Nunn, C. D. et al. 2007. Use of environmentally enriched housing for rats with spinal cord injury: the need for standardization. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 46(2).

Enrichment ideas for a blind mongoose lemur

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Lemur, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Broder, J. 2007. Enrichment ideas for a blind mongoose lemur . Shape of Enrichment 16(1-2), 15.

Combination therapy reduces self-injurious behavior in a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes): A case report

The combination therapy approach entailed the following (a) pharmacological intervention with a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogue, (b) positive reinforcement training, and (c) environmental enrichment, as well as social and environmental modification. The individually tailored, multifaceted combination therapy resulted in the...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Animal Training, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Chimpanzee, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Bourgeois, S. R., Vazquez, M., Brasky, K. M. 2007. Combination therapy reduces self-injurious behavior in a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes): A case report. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 10(2), 123-140.

Effects of cage size and enrichment on aggression and stereotypic behavior in three strains of laboratory mice

For female mice, increased complexity of space is more important than the quantity of space.

Year Published: 2007Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Forsyth, N., Young, G., Mench, J. 2007. Effects of cage size and enrichment on aggression and stereotypic behavior in three strains of laboratory mice. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 26 (Abstract).