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Environmental Enrichment for Animals in our Care

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A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal System and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 74561

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Wendy Y. Brown

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Guest Editor

Animal Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
Interests: companion animal nutrition and health; canine dental health; feeding behavior and food preferences; urate urolithiasis in the dalmatian
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Peta Taylor

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Guest Editor

Animal Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
Interests: poultry behaviour and welfare; effective enrichment; affective states; animal welfare indicators

Dr. Megan Verdon

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Guest Editor

Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, College of Sciences and Engineering, University of Tasmania, Tasmania 7320, Australia
Interests: social behaviour of animals; animal behaviour; animal welfare; pig; dairy; aggressive behaviour; individual variation; animal personalities

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Animals under human care are reliant on our skills as animal managers to adequately provide for their needs. Increasingly, the goal has shifted from providing minimal or adequate care, to providing high-quality care and enriched environments. Animal welfare scientists provide guidance in this space, but it is the animal researchers, owners, managers, and caretakers that are tasked with providing enrichments that are recommended to improve the welfare of the animals under their care. Science-based practical solutions are needed to help to meet this responsibility, and it is equally important that we have two-way conversations and sharing of ideas.

In this Special Issue, we invite original manuscripts that address issues surrounding environmental enrichment for animals under human care, whether in production animal systems, zoos, research facilities, or pet owners’ homes.

Associate Prof. Wendy Y. Brown
Dr. Peta Taylor Dr. Megan Verdon
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

affective state
animal care
animal management
animal welfare
biological functioning
biological relevance
effective enrichment
husbandry intervention
natural behaviour-behavioural diversity
sensory stimulation

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 315 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Why Are Enrichment Practices in Zoos Difficult to Implement Effectively?

by Eileen K. Tuite, Simon A. Moss, Clive J. Phillips and Samantha J. Ward

Animals 2022, 12(5), 554; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12050554 - 23 Feb 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 7476

Abstract

The good intentions of zoos to introduce enrichment practices that stimulate animals mentally and physically are not always achievable. Changes to the policies and procedures in organisations are difficult to fulfil for a range of reasons frequently investigated in change management literature. The implementation of these changes can be the source of ineffective attempts to generate positive interventions in organisations. In this study, we investigate whether interventions to improve animal management in zoos through enrichment are subject to implementation impediments. Qualitative data gathered from interviews with 23 keepers working with big cats across 12 zoos globally provided valuable insights into the barriers and enablers to the implementation of enrichment. Keepers participated voluntarily and worked in accredited zoos across Australia, New Zealand, Europe, south-east Asia, South Africa, and the United States of America. Thematic analysis of the data revealed five key themes that described some of the challenges zoos and keepers experience when implementing enrichment for big cats, in their words: “let’s just be cautious”, “purely surviving”, “struggle to understand the goal”, “can’t always provide what you should”, and “judge the effectiveness”. These themes provide additional insights into potential areas for improvement, including greater attention to the benefits of enrichment for animal mental health and increased transparency around enrichment objectives in zoos. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Enrichment for Animals in our Care)

19 pages, 2059 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Complexity: Additional Human Visual Contact Reduced Meat Chickens’ Fear of Humans and Physical Items Altered Pecking Behavior

by Peta S. Taylor, Paul H. Hemsworth and Jean-Loup Rault

Animals 2022, 12(3), 310; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12030310 - 27 Jan 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2447

Abstract

Increased environmental complexity can improve animal welfare, depending on the resources provided and use by the animal. We provided chickens either with physical items that posed no biosecurity risk and were inexpensive (balls, chains, perches and rope) (P; n = 36) or additional visual human contact (10 min daily) (HC; n = 36) compared to farm-like standard control groups (C; n = 36) with 3 pens per treatment. Additional human contact reduced fear of humans at 35 days of age, but not general fearfulness. P birds required more inductions to induce tonic immobility compared to HC and C birds at 21 days of age. However, other indicators of fear (open field test and plasma corticosterone concentration) did not significantly differ. P birds favored the woodblock for resting, and the perch but preferred to sit underneath the perch rather than on top. When pecking items were not provided, C and HC chickens redirected their pecking behavior toward the litter. Overall, there was little evidence that our physical items improved the chickens’ behavioral time budget, fear, physiological stress or production. Additional human contact should be investigated in large scale experiments to ensure its effectiveness to reduce fear of humans on farm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Enrichment for Animals in our Care)

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8 pages, 777 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Dog Behaviour: Pilot Study

by Rebecca L. Hunt, Helen Whiteside and Susanne Prankel

Animals 2022, 12(2), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12020141 - 07 Jan 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 17137

Abstract

Environmental enrichment (EE) can be used to enhance the environment of various animals. The aim of this pilot study was to determine the effects of seven EE activities (Bonding, Bubble machine, Conspecific play, Interactive toy, Playhouse, Stuffed food toy and Tug play) on dog behaviour, pre- and post-EE for dogs housed in an office environment during training as part of an assistance dog training programme. EE activities resulted in a significant increase in the frequency of relaxation behaviours (p < 0.01) and a significant reduction in alert (p < 0.01) and stress behaviours (p = 0.02). Results suggest various benefits of the different activities with Conspecific Play and Playhouse activities having the greatest overall positive behaviour change when compared to the other activities. The food-based EE activities (Interactive toy and Stuffed food toy) had the least behaviour change of all the activities provided. Findings will be of interest to pet owners, animal rescue centres, dog trainers and working dog organisations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Enrichment for Animals in our Care)

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13 pages, 1054 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Zoo Visitor Attitudes Are More Influenced by Animal Behaviour than Environmental Enrichment Appearance

by Marina Salas, Daan W. Laméris, Arno Depoortere, Lise Plessers and Jonas Verspeek

Animals 2021, 11(7), 1971; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11071971 - 30 Jun 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 7391

Abstract

Decisions on environmental enrichment programmes are sometimes based on the assumption that non-natural or artificial looking items negatively affect visitor experiences. In this study, we developed a questionnaire to assess zoo visitor attitudes towards enrichment appearance in an outdoor walk-through enclosure for ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta). Naturalistic and artificial looking enrichment items were alternately provided in the enclosure. A total of 371 visitors filled out the questionnaire: 174 in the naturalistic and 197 in the artificial conditions. Both researchers and visitors conducted behavioural observations of the lemurs. Our results suggest that the appearance of the items did not have an effect on visitor attitudes and that visitors recognised both naturalistic and artificial items as enriching for the animals. Moreover, the behaviour and visibility of the lemurs had a greater effect on the visitors’ attitudes. We suggest that during the design of enrichment items, less concern should be placed on the appearance of the items and more on their effect on animal behaviour. Ultimately, this would improve both animal welfare in captivity and the visitor experience. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Enrichment for Animals in our Care)

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11 pages, 25724 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Comparative Study on Two Territorial Fishes: The Influence of Physical Enrichment on Aggressive Behavior

by Zonghang Zhang, Yiqiu Fu, Zhen Zhang, Xiumei Zhang and Shengcan Chen

Animals 2021, 11(7), 1868; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11071868 - 23 Jun 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2843

Abstract

Intraspecific aggression is detrimental to body/fin damage, physiological stress, and other problems in aquaculture. Environmental enrichment has been proposed to have positive effects on fish aggressive behavior, physiological stress, and fish welfare, but there are mixed results. Here, we examine the impact of physical enrichment levels (i.e., the intensity of physical enrichment) on aggression in black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) and fat greenling (Hexagrammos otakii). Generally, with the increase in the enrichment level, the frequency of the aggressive behavior of black rockfish gradually decreased. In contrast, a non-monotonous effect of the enrichment level on aggression was observed for fat greenling, with low and intermediate levels leading to no or more aggression, while a high enrichment level reduced aggression. After three days, the high-level enrichment groups in both rockfish and greenling reached social stability (i.e., a relatively stable social structure indicated by lower aggression), while aggression in the other groups continued increased. These results show the significant regulatory effect of enrichment levels on the aggressive behavior in both black rockfish and fat greenling. This study may promote the development of environmental enrichment measures, and it provides useful information for reducing fish aggression and improving fish welfare in aquaculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Enrichment for Animals in our Care)

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14 pages, 871 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cognitive Enrichment in Practice: A Survey of Factors Affecting Its Implementation in Zoos Globally

by Belinda A. Hall, David M. McGill, Sally L. Sherwen and Rebecca E. Doyle

Animals 2021, 11(6), 1721; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11061721 - 09 Jun 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6081

Abstract

Information on the practical use of cognitive enrichment in zoos is scarce. This survey aimed to identify where cognitive enrichment is being used while identifying factors that may limit its implementation and success. Distributed in eight languages to increase global range, responses to this survey (n = 177) show that while agreement on what constitutes cognitive enrichment is poor, it is universally perceived as very important for animal welfare. Carnivores were the animal group most reported to receive cognitive enrichment (76.3%), while amphibians and fish the least (16.9%). All animal groups had a percentage of participants indicating animal groups in their facility were not receiving cognitive enrichment when they believe that they should (29.4–44.6%). On average, factors relating to time and finance were rated most highly in terms of effect on cognitive enrichment use, and keeper interest was the highest rated for effect on success. Results of this study indicate that cognitive enrichment is perceived as important. However, placing the responsibility of its development and implementation on animal keepers who are already time-poor may be impeding its use. A commitment to incorporating cognitive enrichment into routine husbandry, including financial support and investment into staff is needed from zoos to ensure continued improvement to captive animal welfare. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Enrichment for Animals in our Care)

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15 pages, 2792 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Public Feeding Interactions as Enrichment for Three Zoo-Housed Elephants

by Eduardo J. Fernandez, Bruce Upchurch and Nancy C. Hawkes

Animals 2021, 11(6), 1689; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11061689 - 06 Jun 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 7832

Abstract

The past few decades have seen increased interest in studies examining the welfare of elephants and animal–visitor interactions. One understudied area for both pursuits is the impact of public feeding interactions. Our study examined the effects of public feedings on the general activity of three zoo-housed elephants. Prior to public feedings, we developed and assessed a 21-behavior ethogram split into six classes of behavior. Comparisons between the elephants demonstrated that only one of the elephants engaged in stereotypies with regularity (>30%), and that the stereotypies occurred in place of most foraging. During public feedings, we compared the general activity of each elephant independently and across both public feeding and nonpublic feeding days, as well as the general activity before, during, and after a public feeding. Public feedings increased social activity and decreased stereotypies when compared with nonpublic feeding days for two of the elephants. In addition, all three elephants showed increased foraging and decreased inactivity in the period after a public feeding session. These results demonstrate that public feedings can be a useful tool for enriching the welfare of zoo-housed elephants and are among the first sets of data to demonstrate positive welfare outcomes associated with public feedings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Enrichment for Animals in our Care)

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16 pages, 1745 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Diversity Matter? Behavioural Differences between Piglets Given Diverse or Similar Forms of Enrichment Pre-Weaning

by Océane Schmitt, Aurélie Poidevin and Keelin O'Driscoll

Animals 2020, 10(10), 1837; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101837 - 09 Oct 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1817

Abstract

This study investigated the behavioural effects of providing different enrichment materials to suckling piglets from 7 days-old until weaning. One object was attached to the pen wall (WALL), and the other was suspended in the middle of the pen (MID). Control group had the hessian fabric in both locations, and the two diverse groups had hessian and bamboo stick in alternate locations (i.e., BMID-HWALL and HMID-BWALL). Piglets behaviour was recorded on D0 (object introduction), D1, D5, D8, D12, and D14; at weaning and 1, 3, 5 and 15 days after. Groups did not differ in approaching or interacting with objects on D0. MID objects attracted more attention than WALL objects (p < 0.01). Piglets interacted more with hessian than bamboo (p < 0.001). They performed more oral manipulation and shaking with hessian (p < 0.001), but more pushing of bamboo (p < 0.001). Interactions with objects increased with time (p < 0.001), especially with hessian (p < 0.01), while interest in bamboo remained unchanged. Control piglets performed more biting than piglets with diverse enrichment (pooled data), both pre- and post-weaning (p < 0.05). Therefore, providing different types of enrichment material can reduce biting behaviour pre- and post-weaning. Hessian was favoured, possibly because this was easier to bite and shake, which were the behaviours most often observed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Enrichment for Animals in our Care)

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Review

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32 pages, 725 KiB

Open AccessReview

Environmental Enrichment for Rats and Mice Housed in Laboratories: A Metareview

by Anna S. Ratuski and Daniel M. Weary

Animals 2022, 12(4), 414; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12040414 - 09 Feb 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 10216

Abstract

Environmental enrichment has been widely studied in rodents, but there is no consensus on what enrichment should look like or what it should achieve. Inconsistent use of the term “enrichment” creates challenges in drawing conclusions about the quality of an environment, which may slow housing improvements for laboratory animals. Many review articles have addressed environmental enrichment for laboratory rats and mice (Rattus norvegicus and Mus musculus). We conducted a metareview of 29 review articles to assess how enrichment has been defined and what are commonly described as its goals or requirements. Recommendations from each article were summarised to illustrate the conditions generally considered suitable for laboratory rodents. While there is no consensus on alternative terminology, many articles acknowledged that the blanket use of the terms “enriched” and “enrichment” should be avoided. Environmental enrichment was most often conceptualised as a method to increase natural behaviour and improve animal welfare. Authors also commonly outlined perceived risks and requirements of environmental enrichment. We discuss these perceptions, make suggestions for future research, and advocate for the adoption of more specific and value-neutral terminology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Enrichment for Animals in our Care)

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Other

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11 pages, 1769 KiB

Open AccessCommentary

Challenges and Solutions Surrounding Environmental Enrichment for Dogs and Cats in a Scientific Environment

by Emma Desforges

Animals 2021, 11(10), 2980; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11102980 - 15 Oct 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5621

Abstract

Dogs and cats housed in research-, kennel- and cattery-type settings are reliant on caregivers to optimise their day-to-day experiences and welfare. The goal is to provide enriching environments for physical, social and environmental control; behavioural choice and opportunities to live as varied a life as possible. However, there are numerous challenges in these environments such as lack of appropriate enrichment for group housing, budget for equipment/training, study controls, time and space to make improvements. In addition, research settings are required to comply with legislation for care, husbandry and housing, and as standards differ between regions, conditions will vary between settings. Sharing knowledge in this field can only help drive a wider culture of care by helping improve the lives and welfare of animals cared for. This article presents some of the environmental enrichment strategies effective at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, UK. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Enrichment for Animals in our Care)

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8 pages, 405 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Long-Term Effect of Environmental Enrichment on Reproductive Performance of Swiss Webster Mice and Their Female Offspring

by María Noel Meikle, Ana Paula Arévalo, Geraldine Schlapp, Gabriel Fernández-Graña, Alejo Menchaca and Martina Crispo

Animals 2020, 10(8), 1438; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10081438 - 18 Aug 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2734

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an environmental enrichment (EE) plan on the reproductive performance of Swiss Webster mice and their female offspring used as recipients for embryo transfer. A total of 54 breeder mice and 60 F1 females, used as foster mothers, were allocated in two experimental groups to receive or not receive EE for physical well-being. Reproductive outcomes of the Swiss trios such as birth rate and pup number, litter size, pups’ weight at weaning, interlitter interval and time to first litter were analyzed. Environmental enrichment significantly increased pups weight from breeding trios compared to the control group (14.4 ± 0.1 vs. 13.8g ± 0.1, EE vs. control, respectively; p < 0.01). Other parameters did not differ between both groups. Reproductive parameters of female offspring used as recipients for embryo transfer did not differ among groups subjected or not to EE. These data demonstrate that the EE protocol applied in Swiss Webster breeder mice positively enhanced pups weight, and did not interfere with other reproductive outcomes. In conclusion, this study supports the implementation of EE plans usually applied for animal welfare in mouse facilities with slight improvement in reproductive performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Enrichment for Animals in our Care)

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