Environmental Enrichment

Current practices in a captive breeding colony of 13-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus)

The authors provide an update to their 2006 report on the successful large-scale captive breeding of the 13-lined ground squirrel (TLGS; Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) in their colony, now a single-source supplier of purpose-bred TLGSs for several research institutions. With funding from...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Natural Behavior, ReproductionAnimal Type: Other Rodent, Rodent

Citation: Merriman, D. K., Lahvis, G., Jooss, M. et al. 2012. Current practices in a captive breeding colony of 13-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus). Lab Animal 41(11), 315-325.

Gnawing blocks as cage enrichment and dietary supplement for does and fatteners: Intake, performance and behaviour

The aim of this study was to evaluate different experimental gnawing blocks as cage enrichment in rabbits. One hundred and five pregnant rabbit does housed in conventional wire cages were distributed according to their parity number in 4 homogenous treatment...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Maertens, L., Buijs, S., Davoust, C. 2012. Gnawing blocks as cage enrichment and dietary supplement for does and fatteners: Intake, performance and behaviour. World Rabbit Science 21(S1), 185-192.

Tailoring enrichment to GA mice

Philosopher and ethicist Professor Bernard Rollin recently wrote that animal researchers should “do the utmost to minimise animal suffering arising in the course of animal research, and maximise the animal's ability to live a life where the interests and needs...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Fawcett, A. 2012. Tailoring enrichment to GA mice. Enrichment Record 7, 20-24.

Shelter-style environmental enrichment affects neurobehavioral status of laboratory mice

Environmental enrichment aims to improve the wellbeing of laboratory animals and provides an opportunity to improve experimental reliability and validity. Animals raised in more stimulating environments have improved learning and memory as well as more complex brain architecture. However, the...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Coke-Murphy, C. S., Saborido, T. P., Buendia, M. et al. 2012. Shelter-style environmental enrichment affects neurobehavioral status of laboratory mice. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 639-640 (Abstract #PS47).

Designing gum-based enrichment for captive patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas)

In the wild, patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas) consume Acacia spp. gum for 20% of their active time. While providing gum-based enrichment to other gummivorous primates is not a unique idea, there have been no reports of captive patas monkeys receiving...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Carey, M. C., West, A. M., Lozano, A. et al. 2012. Designing gum-based enrichment for captive patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas). American Journal of Primatology 74(S1), 42. (35th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #53)

History of enrichment in the ILAR Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

Throughout the nearly 50 year history of the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) Guide, little attention or content was allocated to the subject of enrichment until the current (8th) edition (NRC 2011). Although animal wellbeing, social environment, psychological well-being...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Bratcher, N., Clemons, D., Medina, L. 2012. History of enrichment in the ILAR Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Enrichment Record 12, 10-12.

Environmental enrichment and the behavioural needs of macaques housed in large social groups

In this article, we address some of the issues surrounding the behavioural needs of captive animals and go on to elucidate some of the key aspects of the environmental enrichment strategy at Bioculture (Mauritius) (BCM) designed to balance safety, animal...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Honess, P., Andrianjazalahatra, T., Fernandez, L. et al. 2012. Environmental enrichment and the behavioural needs of macaques housed in large social groups. Enrichment Record 10, 16-20.

Effects of play caging on the behavior and enrichment use of singly-housed rhesus macaques

This study examined whether allowing 10 singly-housed adult male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) 2-week access to a larger play cage would increase their species-typical behavior and decrease anxiety and abnormal behavior. The play cage consisted of four interconnected cages equipped...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Griffis, C., Martin, A. L., Perlman, J. E. et al. 2012. Effects of play caging on the behavior and enrichment use of singly-housed rhesus macaques. American Journal of Primatology 74(S1), 35. (35th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #33)

Efficacy of 3 types of foraging enrichment for rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

The 3 enrichment devices had different effects on individual expression of stereotypy: supertubes decreased it, shakers increased it, and puzzle balls led to a decrease followed by an increase. We present potential reasons for the changes in stereotypy and postulate...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Gottlieb, D. H., Ghirardo, S., Minier, D. E. et al. 2012. Efficacy of 3 types of foraging enrichment for rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). JAALAS 50(6), 888-894.

Going back to nature: The benefits of wood enrichment

Environmental enrichment can be defined as altering the living environment of captive animals in order to provide them with opportunities to express more of their natural behavioral repertoire. The challenge of providing effective enrichment in laboratory species is to ensure...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Chinchilla, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Other Rodent, Owl Monkey, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Froberg-Fejko, K. M., Lecker, J. L. 2012. Going back to nature: The benefits of wood enrichment. Lab Animal 41(11), 345-347.