Environmental Enrichment

Enrichment and aggression in primates

There is considerable evidence that primates housed under impoverished conditions develop behavioural abnormalities, including, in the most extreme example, self-harming behaviour. This has implications for all contexts in which primates are maintained in captivity from laboratories to zoos since by...

Year Published: 2006Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Honess, P. E., Marin, C. M. 2006. Enrichment and aggression in primates. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 30, 413-346.

A note on the effect of auditory stimulation on the behaviour and welfare of zoo-housed gorillas

Auditory stimulation has long been employed as a form of therapy for humans and animals housed in institutions. Its effect on one of our closest-living relatives, the gorilla, however, is largely unknown. This study explored the effect of auditory stimulation...

Year Published: 2006Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Wells, D. L., Coleman, D., Challis, M. G. 2006. A note on the effect of auditory stimulation on the behaviour and welfare of zoo-housed gorillas. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 100(3-4), 327-332.

Scientific approaches to enrichment and stereotypies in zoo animals: what’s been done and where should we go next?

The zoo scientific community was among the first to focus attention on captivity-induced stereotypic behaviors, their causes, and methods of eradication. Environmental enrichment has emerged recently as the main husbandry tool for tackling this problem. An increasing number of research...

Year Published: 2006Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Swaisgood, R. R., Shepherdson, D. J. 2006. Scientific approaches to enrichment and stereotypies in zoo animals: what's been done and where should we go next? Zoo Biology 24, 499-518.

Environmental enrichment objects for the improvement of locomotion of caged rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Juveniles used the mobile objects [treadmill and rotating barrel] more than the adults. Due to the increase in locomotion, the amount of time spent in aggressive behavior significantly decreased.

Year Published: 2006Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Plesker, R., Heller-Schmidth, J., Hackbarth, H. 2006. Environmental enrichment objects for the improvement of locomotion of caged rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Laboratory Primate Newsletter 45(1), 7-10.

Noise exposure, music, and animal in the laboratory: A commentary based on Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum (LAREF) discussions

Evidence supports the use of quiet music during nonhuman animals' activity periods, if this practice is introduced with an awareness of the risks to welfare and research.

Year Published: 2006Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Patterson-Kane, E. G., Farnworth, M. J. 2006. Noise exposure, music, and animal in the laboratory: A commentary based on Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum (LAREF) discussions. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 9, 327-332.

Feeding enrichment for chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): twenty year later

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

Citation: Bloomsmith, M. A. 2007. Feeding enrichment for chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): twenty year later. American Journal of Primatology 69(Supplement), 124 [Abstract].

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.