Lecture 9 - Environmental Enrichment Flashcards
What kind of challenges do animals face in nature?
-Hunt and consume food
-Seeking, competing and attracting sexual partners
-Avoiding predators
-Deal with changing environment
How does life differ for an animal in captivity?
-Food is provided
-Partners selected
-No dangers, environment stable
-Protected against competitive interactions
How can a lack of challenges cause welfare problems?
It will cause a low interest in the environment leading to behavioural problems
Why is welfare important in zoos?
Individuals with abnormal behaviours:
-Not useful for conservation
-Not used for education
-Little use for research
-Unpleasant to see
What is environmental enrichment?
Different procedures that modify physical or social environment of animals kept in captivity. Promotes quality of life and satisfies behavioural needs.
Is meeting basic needs environmental enrichment?
NO
What are the objectives of environmental enrichment?
-Reduce abnormal behaviours
-Stress reduction
-Increase use of space in enclosure
-Increase diversity of behaviour
-Give control over animals environment
-Give animals opportunity to make choices
-Increase ability to adapt to new situations
-Opportunities to perform behaviours similar to wild
-Reintroduction species programs
What should enrichment be based on?
-Animals natural history
-Individual animal history
What should enrichment include?
- Physical and social enrichment
- The role of handlers
- Diet
What types of enrichment are there?
-Physical
-Sensory
-Cognitive
-Social
-Food
What are some examples of physical enrichments?
-Refuges
-Permanent accessories (furniture)
-Temporary accessories (toys, ropes)
-Substrates (nesting)
What are some examples of sensory enrichment?
-Visual (toys, movement)
-Auditive (noises, vocalization)
-Olfactory (prey natural smell)
-Tactile (Scratching material)
-Taste (palatable)
What are some examples of cognitive enrichment to boost intellectual activity?
- Psychological (puzzles)
- Exercises
What is social enrichment?
Interaction (same species or different species) that can be created within an enclosure
What is food enrichment?
Variations in feeding, according to each species habits.
What are some examples of food enrichment?
- Variations in the way food is offered (whole, hidden, frozen)
- Frequency (daily or not)
- Time (morning, afternoon, night)
What are benefits of environmental enrichment?
-Increase animal welfare level
-Increase animal cognitive abilities
-Raising public education level
-Increase animal health level
What is cognitive environmental enrichment?
Mechanical devices for handling
What are disadvantages of environmental enrichment?
-Increases accident risk
-Expensive
-Time expensive for keepers and biologists
-Decreases welfare if done improperly
-Needs administration to maintain novelty of effect
What safety concerns could there be with environmental enrichment?
- Should not contribute to animal escape, injuries, or hurts visitors
- Avoiding conflicts between animals by providing enough enrichment
- Non-toxic and easily disinfected materials
What is the novelty character of an enrichment?
The length of time the enrichment is used so that the animals don’t get bored or overstimulated by it (habituation)
What are some novelty effects of enrichment?
-Novelty exposure reduces fear
-Fear reduction is general for new things
-Increased level of visual stimulation
-Can cause habituation over time
How can you help an animal not lose interest in an enrichment?
Use a stimulus closer to the natural life, or associated with positive reinforcement (food)
What is important to remember when choosing an environmental enrichment?
Previous knowledge about the species
