Environmental Enrichment

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.

Effect of marginal environmental and social enrichment during rearing on pigs’ reactions to novelty, conspecifics and handling

The rearing environment of farmed animals can affect their behaviour when handled, and therefore needs to be taken into account when selecting for traits such as docility. Therefore, 126 German Landrace and Pietrain × German Landrace pigs were reared in...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Toenepoehl, B., Appel, A. K., Welp, S. et al. 2012. Effect of marginal environmental and social enrichment during rearing on pigs' reactions to novelty, conspecifics and handling. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 140(3-4), 137-145.

Using enrichment to improve welfare and reduce suffering

European Directive 2010/63/EU requires that accommodation and care are refined so as to minimize suffering, and that the lifetime experience of the animal is taken into account when assessing the actual severity of procedures. So, with respect to these requirements,...

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

Citation: Winnicker, C., Gaskill, B. 2012. Using enrichment to improve welfare and reduce suffering. Enrichment Record 12, 16-19.

The benefits of adding a little color to a monkey’s environment

Imagine if your everyday world was boring, blah and completely sterile looking with limited amounts of color. Unimaginable, right? Here at Legacy Schering Plough/Merck, we thought the same about our nonhuman primates who look at the same bland walls each...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Olivo, D. 2012. The benefits of adding a little color to a monkey's environment. Enrichment Record 10, 7.

Assessment of the reinforcing potential of auditory enrichment in adult male rhesus macaques

Environmental enrichment is a concept that describes how the environment of captive animals can be changed for the benefit of the inhabitants. In 2000, Wright and colleagues suggested that tonal melodies form musical gestalts for monkeys, as they do for...

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

Citation: McComb, M. M., Code, R. A., Merrick, J. M. et al. 2012. Assessment of the reinforcing potential of auditory enrichment in adult male rhesus macaques. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 640 (Abstract #PS48).

Manzanita wood: A sanitizable enrichment option for nonhuman primates

Wooden objects are often used as nonhuman primate enrichment to provide variety and novelty, promote exploratory behavior, and supply an outlet for curiosity. However, concerns have been raised regarding the ability to sanitize wood by using conventional cage-wash procedures. To...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: All/General, Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Luchins, K. R., Baker, K. C., Gilbert, M. H. et al. 2011. Manzanita wood: A sanitizable enrichment option for nonhuman primates. JAALAS 50(6), 884-887.