Environmental Enrichment

Social interaction for non-sibling pregnant New Zealand white rabbits on reproductive toxicology

Rabbits are gregarious animals that live in social groups in the wild so individually housing our animals, while meeting the present scientific objectives, restricts their natural social behaviour. How to meet the social needs of our rabbits while maintaining a...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Holmes, J., Waters, D., Maisonave, I. et al. 2017. Social interaction for non-sibling pregnant New Zealand white rabbits on reproductive toxicology. Animal Technology and Welfare 16(2), 139-141.

The curious tale of axolotl enrichment

Axolotls can be used in scientific research to provide fertilised embryos for investigations into the genetic pathways controlling stem cell development. Breeding animals are housed for several years and environmental enrichment is required to improve welfare by providing axolotls greater...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Amphibian, Salamander

Citation: Billingham, E. 2017. The curious tale of axolotl enrichment. Animal Technology and Welfare 16(3), 191-194.

Behavioral research as physical enrichment for captive chimpanzees

In this study, we evaluated the potential for a behavioral research study, designed to evaluate chimpanzee decision‐making behavior, to also encourage increased activity in a group of zoo‐housed chimpanzees. For the behavioral study, the chimpanzees had to carry tokens to...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Chimpanzee, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Hooper, L. M., Shender, M. A., Ross, S. R. 2016. Behavioral research as physical enrichment for captive chimpanzees. Zoo Biology 34(4), 293-297.

Behavioral responses of three armadillo species (Mammalia: Xenarthra) to an environmental enrichment program in Villavicencio, Colombia

Enrichment is a powerful tool to improve the welfare of animals under human care. Stress‐related health and behavioral problems, as well as reproductive failure, are frequent in armadillos (Xenarthra, Cingulata, Dasypodidae) under human care, which hinders the development of successful...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Cortés Duarte, A., Trujillo, F., Superina, M. 2016. Behavioral responses of three armadillo species (Mammalia: Xenarthra) to an environmental enrichment program in Villavicencio, Colombia. Zoo Biology 35(4), 304-312.

Improving rabbit enrichment: Developing a rolling enrichment plan

A three-week enrichment preference study trialling different substrates, food and pen structures was carried out in three, group-housed female New Zealand White Rabbits (NZW). Preference results: structural - rabbits spent the most time with a circular table (repurposed empty wooden...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Pearson, K., Gant, J. 2018. Improving rabbit enrichment: Developing a rolling enrichment plan. Animal Technology and Welfare 17(2), 121-123.

Introduction of gang caging for group housed rats

Using an existing gang cage designed for ferrets, we developed a version that would be suitable for housing rats. Caging consisted of 3 floors with a combined floor area of 11620m, connected by 2 ladders. Each individual unit can be...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Clarke, D., Ioannou, L. 2018. Introduction of gang caging for group housed rats. Animal Technology and Welfare 17(2), 136-137.

Up-regulation of IGF-1 in the frontal cortex of piglets exposed to an environmentally enriched arena

Environmental enrichment (EE) is widely used in the life sciences to study effects of environment on the brain. In pigs, despite lack of EE being a key welfare issue there is little understanding of brain effects of EE in pigs....

Year Published: 2017Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Brown, S. M., Peters, R., Lawrence, A. B. 2017. Up-regulation of IGF-1 in the frontal cortex of piglets exposed to an environmentally enriched arena. Physiology & Behavior 173, 285-292.

The effect of different genres of music on the stress levels of kennelled dogs’

Classical music has been shown to reduce stress in kennelled dogs; however, rapid habituation of dogs to this form of auditory enrichment has also been demonstrated. The current study investigated the physiological and behavioural response of kennelled dogs (n =...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Bowman, A., Scottish SPCA, Dowell, F. J. et al. 2017. 'The effect of different genres of music on the stress levels of kennelled dogs'. Physiology & Behavior 171, 207-215.

Tailored enrichment strategies and stereotypic behaviour in captive individually-housed macaques (Macaca spp.)

In this study, I combine both physiological and behavioural measures of well-being to comprehensively assess the unique needs of individually-housed captive macaques (Macaca spp.) at OPR Coastal Primate Sanctuary in Longview, WA, with the aim of developing tailored welfare strategies....

Year Published: 2017Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Cannon, T. 2017. Tailored enrichment strategies and stereotypic behaviour in captive individually-housed macaques (Macaca spp.). Canopy 17(2), 13-16.

Rescue-Enrich-Release: The environmental enrichment program for three species of captive primates at Colobus

It is widely known that the psychological wellbeing of captive animals can become compromised by a captive environment that lacks proper environmental stimulation. Environmental enrichment programs have become the norm in captive environments yet research conducting evaluations on the effectiveness...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Palmer, S. 2017. Rescue-Enrich-Release: The environmental enrichment program for three species of captive primates at Colobus. Canopy 17(2), 27-30.