Enrichment
Enrichment is used to improve the psychological state of an animal in captivity through providing an environment that promotes and stimulates innate behaviours. If an animal is left in captivity without any form of enrichment it can become restless or bored and develop unnatural behaviours.
In order to implement proper enrichment it is important to research the animal´s natural behaviours and tendencies as well as their typical environment prior to administering any form of enrichment.
There are four basic types of behavioural enrichment that are used to achieve happy and healthy animals in captivity:
- Environmental/Physical
- Sensory
- Nutritional
- Cognitive
Another form of cognitive enrichment is training an animal to exhibit wild behaviours. This not only promotes innate actions but also prohibits unnatural ones. If an animal is being trained it not only exercises their brain but it provides the ability to respond appropriately to positive reinforcement, something all animals learn to do in the wild at a young age. For example, a jaguar can be trained to scent roll onto objects with foreign smells by receiving a treat each time the correct behaviour is exhibited. Over time, the animal will expect a reward for completing the appropriate behaviour desired. This is not only healthy for the exhibition of innate behaviours but also keeps the animal busy and entertained, which is effective for depression prevention.

An animal’s well-being is determined by its physical and mental state. The five freedoms are guidelines for proper care of animals in captivity to ensure they’re at an optimum level of physical and mental health.
- Freedom from hunger and thirst
– The food should be appropriate according to the natural diet of the animal
– The food should be administered in a way that mimics natural feeding behaviours
– The feeding methods should be safe for staff and animal
– The food and water supplies should be prepared and kept hygienically
– Feeding by visitors shouldn’t be permitted
- Freedom from discomfort
– All aspects of environment at appropriate levels according to the animal’s natural environment (noise, temperature, light, ventilation, etc.)
– The enclosure should provide sufficient shelter and space
– The enclosure should be cleaned adequately and daily
– The enclosure should be maintenanced frequently and kept safe
- Freedom from pain, injury, or disease
– Daily observations should be made on behaviour and reported when necessary
– Animals should be given immediate and proper care when necessary
– Enclosures should be set up as to avoid interspecies and intraspecies conflict
– Capture and restraint facilities should be kept updated and safe
– The on-site veterinary facilities/medicine should be kept clean and adequate for care
– Quarantine areas or enclosures should be kept readily available
- Freedom to express normal behaviour
– The enclosure should meet biological/behavioural needs of animal
– Appropriate animal enrichment should be incorporated frequently
– The enclosure should be adequate to contain the animal
- Freedom from fear and distress
– Animals should only be handled by qualified caretakers
– Contact between animals and public should be avoided for animal’s welfare
– Interactions with the animals should be monitored for stress levels

Without proper animal care and enrichment a variety and/or combination of health issues can arise. The main indicators of poor animal welfare are:
- Reduced longevity (lifespan), reduced ability to grow
- Injury, disease/immunosuppression or self-mutilation present
- Suppression of normal behavioural patterns/Performance of abnormal behavioural patterns
- Reduced ability to breed
- Use of physiological coping mechanisms
- Excessive sleeping, lack of typical mobility
- Normal physiological/physical development inhibited
- Impairment of cognitive functions
- Aggression towards humans and other animals
- Ignoring food/ excessive-eating
- Pacing
- Obsessive grooming/ no grooming
- Lethargic, apathetic
There should be differences in enrichment practices for animals expected to be in captivity for their lifetime (residents), and rehabilitating animals prior to being re-released in the wild.