Environmental Enrichment

The calm mouse: An animal model of stress reduction

Chronic stress is associated with negative health outcomes and is linked with neuroendocrine changes, deleterious effects on innate and adaptive immunity, and central nervous system neuropathology. Although stress management is commonly advocated clinically, there is insufficient mechanistic understanding of how...

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

Citation: Gurfein, B. T., Stamm, A. W., Bacchetti, P. et al. 2012. The calm mouse: An animal model of stress reduction. Molecular Medicine 18(1), 606-617.

The effect of preference assessment-informed enrichment device colour on biting and foraging behaviour in loggerhead sea turtles (2024)

Although environmental enrichment procedures have demonstrated their benefit to non-human animals in zoos and aquariums, the field has given little attention to phylogenetic variables that might affect their efficacy. Recently, research with loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta has demonstrated that...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Reptile, Turtle & Tortoise

Citation: Bulla, A., Mahoney, A., Lee, V. M. et al. 2024. The effect of preference assessment-informed enrichment device colour on biting and foraging behaviour in loggerhead sea turtles. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research 12(4), 232–242.

Animal welfare, agency, and animal–computer interaction (2025)

Recent discussions in animal welfare have emphasised the importance of animal agency—the ability of animals to make choices and exert control over their environment in a way that aligns with their needs and preferences. In this paper, we discuss the...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Browning, H., Veit, W. 2025. Animal welfare, agency, and animal–computer interaction. Animals 15(2), 219.

A systematic review of the effects of musical enrichment on captive mammals (2025)

Forty two studies examining physiological, behavioural and cognitive mammalian responses to music were identified, with 38.1% of those studies focusing on primates. The studies identified included 23 mammalian species across six animal orders (Artiodactyla, Carnivora, Perissodactyla, Primates, Proboscidea and Rodentia)....

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Cat, Chimpanzee, Chinchilla, Dog, Gerbil, Gibbon, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Mole Rat, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Other Rodent, Owl Monkey, Rat, Rodent, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Alkalaj, M. 2025. A systematic review of the effects of musical enrichment on captive mammals. Canopy 25(2).

A bibliometric analysis of studies on environmental enrichment spanning 1967–2024: Patterns and trends over the years

Environmental Enrichment (EE) has received considerable attention for its potential to enhance cognitive and neurobiological outcomes in animal models. This bibliometric analysis offers a comprehensive evaluation of the EE research spanning from 1967 to 2024, utilizing data extracted from Scopus...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Singhal, G., Baune, B. T. 2024. A bibliometric analysis of studies on environmental enrichment spanning 1967–2024: Patterns and trends over the years. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 18.

Tarantula welfare may be improved with greater environmental complexity: A preliminary behavioral study with Brazilian black tarantulas (Grammastola pulchra)

Increased environmental complexity has positive effects on the welfare status of vertebrates living in human care; however, this line of research has received little focus in invertebrates. Here we conducted a preliminary investigation of Brazilian black tarantula (Grammastola pulchra) behavior...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Insect & Spider, Invertebrate

Citation: Stalter, L., Dorleus, T., Milone, N. et al. 2024. Tarantula welfare may be improved with greater environmental complexity: A preliminary behavioral study with Brazilian black tarantulas (Grammastola pulchra). PLOS ONE 19(12), e0314501.

Do cockatiels choose their favourite tunes? Use of touchscreen for animal welfare enhancement and insights into musical preferences

Music may be one of the oldest forms of art, and its appreciation is thought to be universal among humans. Music could also represent a useful tool to improve captive animals' welfare, especially if individuals can choose the music they...

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

Citation: Le Covec, M., Di Stasi, R., Aimé, C. et al. 2024. Do cockatiels choose their favourite tunes? Use of touchscreen for animal welfare enhancement and insights into musical preferences. Animals 14(24), 3609.

Perches used as environmental enrichment influence fast-growth broilers’ biomechanics and locomotor morphometry at the age of 42 days

Currently available conventional breeding methods for broilers often result in impaired biomechanics and skeletal growth for the animals. The addition of environmental enrichment is an alternative which can help alleviate these effects. This study examines the effects of environmental enrichment...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Nazareno, A. C., Silveira, R. M. F., Fernandes, D. P. B. et al. 2024. Perches used as environmental enrichment influence fast-growth broilers' biomechanics and locomotor morphometry at the age of 42 days. PLOS ONE 19(11), e0313214.

The effect of rearing and adult environment on HPA axis responsivity and plumage condition in laying hens

The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis responsivity is influenced by early life experience and also modified by the environment an individual experiences as an adult. Because laying hens are transferred from rearing to laying farms at 16–18 weeks of age, they are...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Nordgreen, J., Dumontier, L., Smulders, T. V. et al. 2024. The effect of rearing and adult environment on HPA axis responsivity and plumage condition in laying hens. Animals 14(23), 3422.

Impact of musical rhythm on blood, physiological and welfare parameters in stabled horses

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two styles of classical music, based on different tempos (BPM), on the physiological and blood parameters of horses during social isolation and restriction of movements. First experiment was carried...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Oliveira, F. Y. U. de, Odakura, A. M., de Castro Burbarelli, M. F. et al. 2024. Impact of musical rhythm on blood, physiological and welfare parameters in stabled horses. Scientific Reports 14(1), 31311.