Environmental Enrichment

Point for enrichment, point for welfare—Testing use of a laser pointer with Arapaima gigas

The arapaima (Arapaima gigas) is one of the largest freshwater fish species, known to exceed 3 m in total length. It is listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN. A. gigas is native to the Amazon River basin where they...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Matrai, E., Chan, H. Y. A., Leung, F. M. et al. 2023. Point for enrichment, point for welfare—Testing use of a laser pointer with Arapaima gigas. Animals 13(8), 1370.

Western hognose snakes (Heterodon nasicus) prefer environmental enrichment

The environmental enrichment needs of snakes are often disregarded. Using preference testing, we aimed to shed light on the enrichment preferences of a popular pet species, the western hognose snake (Heterodon nasicus). Snakes' enclosures were divided into enriched and standard...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Reptile, Snake

Citation: Nagabaskaran, G., Skinner, M., Miller, N. 2022. Western hognose snakes (Heterodon nasicus) prefer environmental enrichment. Animals 12(23), 3347.

Physiological assessment of the health and welfare of domestic cats—An exploration of factors affecting urinary cortisol and oxytocin

Physiological samples are beneficial in assessing the health and welfare of cats. However, most studies have been conducted in specialized environments, such as shelters or laboratories, and have not focused on cats living in domestic settings. In addition, most studies...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: Nagasawa, T., Kimura, Y., Masuda, K. et al. 2022. Physiological assessment of the health and welfare of domestic cats—An exploration of factors affecting urinary cortisol and oxytocin. Animals 12(23), 3330.

Rating enrichment items by female group-housed laboratory mice in multiple binary choice tests using an RFID-based tracking system

Laboratory mice spend most of their lives in cages, not experiments, so improving housing conditions is a first-choice approach to improving their welfare. Despite the increasing popularity of enrichment, little is known about the benefits from an animal perspective. For...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Hobbiesiefken, U., Urmersbach, B., Jaap, A. et al. 2023. Rating enrichment items by female group-housed laboratory mice in multiple binary choice tests using an RFID-based tracking system. PLOS ONE 18(1), e0278709.

Housing conditions affect adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) behavior but not their physiological status

Zebrafish is a valuable model for neuroscience research, but the housing conditions to which it is exposed daily may be impairing its welfare status. The use of environmental enrichment and the refinement of methodology for cortisol measurement could reduce stress,...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Jorge, S., Félix, L., Costas, B. et al. 2023. Housing conditions affect adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) behavior but not their physiological status. Animals 13(6), 1120.

The effects of age, size, and cage complexity on the behaviour of farmed female chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera)

Even though chinchillas have been farmed for a century, there are not many studies concerning their behaviour in captivity or their optimal housing conditions, both of which are important factors in the assessment of their welfare. This study aimed to...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Chinchilla, Rodent

Citation: Łapiński, S., Niedbała, P., Markowska, K. et al. 2023. The effects of age, size, and cage complexity on the behaviour of farmed female chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera). Scientific Reports 13(1), 6108.

Assessment of stress caused by environmental changes for improving the welfare of laboratory beagle dogs

Animal stress is influenced by environmental factors, yet only a few studies have evaluated the effects of environmental stress on captive dogs. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of environmental and social enrichment on the stress levels of captive...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Lee, G.-H., Jo, W., Kang, T.-K. et al. 2023. Assessment of stress caused by environmental changes for improving the welfare of laboratory beagle dogs. Animals 13(6), 1095.

Stress evaluation of mouse husbandry environments for improving laboratory animal welfare

Animal welfare is recognized as essential for the coexistence of humans and animals. Considering the increased demand and interest in animal welfare, many methods for improving animal welfare are being devised, but which method reduces animal stress has not been...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Lee, G.-H., Kim, K., Jo, W. 2023. Stress evaluation of mouse husbandry environments for improving laboratory animal welfare. Animals 13(2), 249.

Sensory enrichment for the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) are New World primates that are found within the coastal rainforests of North East (NE) Brazil. They are a multisensory species, relying on all their senses to survive. It is the duty of all animal carers...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Fuller, M. 2023. Sensory enrichment for the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). Animal Technology and Welfare 22(1), 44–46.

Beef cattle preference and usage of environmental enrichments provided simultaneously in a pasture-based environment

Environmental enrichment can improve livestock welfare through increasing environmental complexity to promote a greater range of natural behaviours. However, there is limited understanding of the need for and impacts of enrichments for extensively managed beef cattle that can sometimes be...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Dickson, E. J., Campbell, D. L. M., Lee, C. et al. 2022. Beef cattle preference and usage of environmental enrichments provided simultaneously in a pasture-based environment. Animals 12(24), 3544.