Environmental Enrichment

Socializing weaned macaques in kindergartens

I used to do something similar when we weaned our infants. We transferred them into a pen with a big brother or big sister whos function was to 'teach the youngsters how to become adults. The trick was finding a...

Year Published: 2008Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Murphy, C. 2008. Socializing weaned macaques in kindergartens. Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum (electronic discussion group), March 25, 2008.

Effects of familiarity and novelty on rates of environmental enrichment object manipulation by laboratory rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Manipulable objects are often provided to laboratory macaques as environmental enrichment, but exposure to objects is widely believed to result in rapid habituation. Consequently, much effort is made to ensure enrichment objects are novel. Here we report experimental comparisons of...

Year Published: 2008Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Leland, S. P., West, A. M., Pippin, Z. L. et al. 2008. Effects of familiarity and novelty on rates of environmental enrichment object manipulation by laboratory rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). American Journal of Primatology 70(S1), 30. (31st Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #29)

Longitudinal comparison of rates of species-typical behavior of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in an enriched laboratory environment

Behavioral observations were conducted as an ongoing program of monitoring psychological well-being of chimpanzees involved in IACUC-approved preventive medicine studies. The chimpanzees were housed in a facility that provided a variety of enrichment objects, climbing structures, and glass-walled enclosures that...

Year Published: 2008Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Chimpanzee, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Leland, S. P., West, A. M., Shaver, C. K. et al. 2008. Longitudinal comparison of rates of species-typical behavior of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in an enriched laboratory environment. American Journal of Primatology 70(S1), 51. (31st Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #92)

Disposable nonhuman primate puzzle for high-containing labs

A simple, disposable puzzle feeder is described. Most of the contents were removed within 15 to 30 minutes, and the tubes themselves were a continued sosurce of interest for several days as the cardboard could be shredded.

Year Published: 2008Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Kelly, K., Powell, N. 2008. Disposable nonhuman primate puzzle for high-containing labs. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 97 (Abstract).

Feeding devices for black-pincelled marmosets

Year Published: 2009Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Borges, M. P., Byk, J., Del-Claro, K. 2009. Feeding devices for black-pincelled marmosets. Shape of Enrichment 18(4), 5.

Novel food items as environmental enrichment for rodents and rabbits

This column discusses the use of novel dietary supplements as environmental enrichment for rodents and rabbits. Items are commercially available from lab animal supply companies. The purpose of enrichment is to encourage behaviors that are appropriate for a particular species...

Year Published: 2009Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Chinchilla, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Mouse, Other Rodent, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Brown, C. 2009. Novel food items as environmental enrichment for rodents and rabbits. Lab Animal 38(4), 119-120.

Enhanced enrichment for rodents in negative pressure isolators

The newly introduced Nestpak is easily applied and has been created to enrich this basic environment and diminish signs of impaired welfare.

Year Published: 2009Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rodent

Citation: Brough, E. 2009. Enhanced enrichment for rodents in negative pressure isolators. Animal Technology and Welfare 8, 189-190.

Loose housing of small goat groups: Influence of visual cover and elevated levels of feeding, resting and agonistic behavior

Frequent social conflicts among goats due to their strict rank relationships can pose problems in loose housing of goats by negatively influencing feeding and resting times of low-ranking group members. In this study, we tested whether enrichment of loose-housing pens...

Year Published: 2009Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Goat

Citation: Aschwanden J, L Gygax, Wechsler B, et al. 2009. Loose housing of small goat groups: Influence of visual cover and elevated levels of feeding, resting and agonistic behavior. App Anim Behav Sci. 119;171-179.

Enrichment from birth accelerates the functional and cellular development of a motor control area in the mouse

There is strong evidence that sensory experience in early life has a profound influence on the development of sensory circuits. Very little is known, however, about the role of experience in the early development of striatal networks which regulate both...

Year Published: 2009Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Simonetti, T., Lee, H., Bourke, M. et al. 2009. Enrichment from birth accelerates the functional and cellular development of a motor control area in the mouse. PLOS ONE 4, e6780.

Animal economics: Assessing the motivation of female laboratory rabbits to reach a platform, social contact and food

We used novel techniques for assessing resource value to investigate what additions to a barren cage female laboratory rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus, value. We tested motivation to reach two resources that are potentially practical enrichments: a platform (providing a partly enclosed...

Year Published: 2008Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Seaman SC, Waran NK, Mason G. 2008. Animal economics: Assessing the motivation of female laboratory rabbits to reach a platform, social contact and food. Anim Behav. 75;31-42.