Environmental enrichment

This chapter focuses on environmental enrichment. It begins by discussing the evolution of enrichment as a concept. It explains that behavioural enrichment aims to successfully stimulate desirable behaviours, increase activity, and provide an easy method for monitoring the health of zoo animals. The chapter highlights the aims and goals of enrichment such as generating behavioural change in target animals. It then lists the types of enrichment and their function: food-based enrichment, physical enrichment, sensory enrichment, social enrichment, and cognitive enrichment. Next, the chapter notes the process of evaluating enrichment. It highlights the challenges posed by novelty and habituation when assessing how long the enrichment is effective. Additionally, the chapter mentions the benefits of environmental enrichment such as promoting breeding and the interaction of an animal with its environment.