Natural Behavior

Horse vision through two lenses: Tinbergen’s Four Questions and the Five Domains

To improve human–horse interactions and reduce the risk of injury, it is essential to adopt an equi-centric perspective that prioritizes how horses perceive their environment. This review focuses on the equine visual system, both because it is the most studied...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Human-Animal Interaction, Husbandry & Management, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Roth, L. S. V., McGreevy, P. 2025. Horse vision through two lenses: Tinbergen’s Four Questions and the Five Domains. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12.

Sleep preferences in CD1 mice in a laboratory environment

This study investigates the preferences of CD1 mice in a lab environment for various sleeping enrichment options within their cages. Understanding the environmental factors that influence sleep behaviour is crucial for enhancing animal welfare in laboratory settings. We assessed two...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & Management, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Mackay, F., Teggart, M. 2025. Sleep preferences in CD1 mice in a laboratory environment. Animal Technology and Welfare 24(2), 175–176.

Dance behaviour in cockatoos: Implications for cognitive processes and welfare

Parrots (Aves, Psittaciformes) in captivity have been reported to show dance behaviour in response to music, which may involve complex cognitive processes including imitation, vocal learning and entrainment. Dance behaviour in parrots may be indicative of a positive welfare state...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Bird, Parrot

Citation: Lubke, N., Held, S. D. E., Massaro, M. et al. 2025. Dance behaviour in cockatoos: Implications for cognitive processes and welfare. PLOS ONE 20(8), e0328487.

Effects of flight restraint and housing conditions on feather corticosterone in white storks under human care

Flight is part of the natural behaviours of most bird species, and as a consequence, flight restraint in zoos, even for those species that are primarily ground-dwelling, encounters increasing animal welfare concerns. While previous studies on greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus)...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Housing, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Bird, Other Bird

Citation: Liermann, F., Baumgartner, K., Simon, R. et al. 2025. Effects of flight restraint and housing conditions on feather corticosterone in white storks under human care. Animals 15(13), 1878.

Affective responses and behavioral strategies to social fusion events in zoo-housed bonobos

Species with fission-fusion dynamics may face heightened social tension during fusion events due to relationship insecurity and competition over resources. Affective consequences of such events are important determinants for behavioral responses, yet remain poorly understood. To evaluate the affective consequences...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Natural Behavior, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Laméris, D. W., Verspeek, J., Salas, M. et al. 2025. Affective responses and behavioral strategies to social fusion events in zoo-housed bonobos. Animal Behavior and Cognition 12(3), 300–329.

Evidence of play behavior in captive California two-spot octopuses, Octopus bimaculoides

Play is considered to be an essential part of development that supports learning, memory, and the development of flexible behavioral strategies. It may also serve as an informative factor in assessing an animal’s welfare state and in improving care and...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Cephalopod, Invertebrate

Citation: Jarmoluk, K., Pelled, G. 2025. Evidence of play behavior in captive California two-spot octopuses, Octopus bimaculoides. PLOS ONE 20(7), e0326379.

Chew sticks, do mice really care?

There are various chewing enrichments on the market for small rodents. In this study we focused on comparing two types, T-Brick and Aspen to see which product enabled more natural chewing behaviours in several strains of mice. A rack of...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Higginson, K. 2025. Chew sticks, do mice really care? Animal Technology and Welfare 24(2), 185–187.

Behavioral and spatial analysis of a Symphalangus syndactylus pair in a controlled environment

For the effective management of captive animals, monitoring their behavior and interactions within the exhibit is essential. This approach provides insights into their welfare and helps identify behavioral differences compared to conspecifics in the wild. This ex situ study aimed...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Gibbon, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Carpino, C., Castiglioni, R., Sacchet, E. et al. 2025. Behavioral and spatial analysis of a Symphalangus syndactylus pair in a controlled environment. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 6(2), 23.

From Fish to Mice to Monkeys in Research: Challenges and Opportunities for Mental Well-being

This chapter focuses mainly on animals in medical research. Many, especially the smaller species such as rat, mice, and zebrafish, may be seen only a few minutes a day by their human caregivers. Most laboratory animals are kept in confinement...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Housing, Human-Animal Interaction, Husbandry & Management, Natural Behavior, Regulations & Ethical Review, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: All/General, Fish, Macaque, Marmoset, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Rat, Rodent, Zebrafish

Citation: Serageldine, C. E., Robinson-Junker, A., Alvino, G. et al. 2025. From Fish to Mice to Monkeys in Research: Challenges and Opportunities for Mental Well-being. In Mental Health and Well-being in Animals (pp. 308–322).

Managed care of naked mole-rats

Naked mole-rats are a burgeoning model species in the field of biomedical research and are also housed at many zoos throughout the world. These mammals possess many traits that have a large impact on the way that they are kept...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Identification Method, Natural Behavior, Rearing & Weaning, Relocation & Transport, Reproduction, RestraintAnimal Type: Mole Rat, Rodent

Citation: Smith, M., Buffenstein, R. 2021. Managed care of naked mole-rats. In: R. Buffenstein, T. J. Park, & M. M. Holmes (Eds.), The Extraordinary Biology of the Naked Mole-Rat (pp. 381–407). Springer International Publishing.