Selecting and Testing Environmental Enrichment in Lemurs

Abstract

Environmental enrichment has become a standard tool for improving the welfare of animals in zoos. Two critical steps in the manipulation of environmental enrichment are (1) selection of objects/procedures and (2) evaluation of their effects. In this study, we examined the selection and evaluation of feeding enrichment for four species of lemur. Experiment 1 used a paired-choice preference assessment to divide eight food items into high- and low-preferred categories. Experiment 2 separately assessed the effects of high- versus low-preferred items (placed in bamboo dispensers) on the behavior of two of the species in the preference assessment. Both high- and low-preferred items increased general activity and overall enclosure use, with high-preferred items having a greater effect than low-preferred items on most measures. The results suggest that preference assessments can serve as useful tools in selecting potential enrichment and that enrichment testing is important in evaluating the significance of these preferences.

Preference assessments as a tool to evaluate environmental enrichment

“…For this reason, this measure has been used in the zoo environment, but studies can vary greatly based on methodologies, specifically, the structure of the preference assessment and the ultimate goal of the study. Zoo researchers may use novel forms of technology for assessment (Hopper, Egelkamp, Fidino, & Ross, 2019; Huskisson, Jacobson, Egelkamp, Ross, & Hopper, 2020) or use one of the numerous adaptations of this measure (Dorey, Mehrkam, & Tacey, 2015; Fay & Miller, 2015; Fernandez & Timberlake, 2019; Fernandez, Dorey, & Rosales‐Ruiz, 2004; Gaalema et al, 2011; Mehrkam & Dorey, 2014, 2015; Roane, Vollmer, Ringdahl, & Marcus, 1998). In the past, researchers have conducted food preference assessment to discover favored items to be used as reinforcers for positive reinforcement training (Fernandez et al, 2004; Gaalema et al, 2011; Martin, Franklin, Perlman, & Bloomsmith, 2018).…”

Activity and Pool Use in Relation to Temperature and Water Changes in Zoo Hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibious)

“…Future research should consider the behavioral welfare implications of pool use, as well as the possibility of increasing both pool use and general activity through events such as pool temperature regulation, environmental enrichment, and husbandry training. Preferences for pool and land temperatures could be directly assessed through preference assessments, which could give hippos choices in exhibit spaces used based on such area temperature differences [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Likewise, other studies have investigated the use of training interactions combined with enrichment to increase time spent swimming in zoo-housed penguins [ 24 ].…”

Freedom and Animal Welfare

“…However, as suffering is usually considered more morally urgent than pleasure, prevention of the suffering experienced through the frustration of highly motivated actions and behaviours would typically take priority. There are a number of initiatives that can help provide additional choice to captive animals, including exhibit rotations [91], technological innovations such as animal-operated sensors [64,92], and the use of preference tests to allow animals to choose their preferred dietary and enrichment items [93,94].…”