Krebs, B., Watters, J. 2017. Simple but temporally unpredictable puzzles are cognitive enrichment. Animal Behavior and Cognition 4(1), 119–134.
Provision of problem solving opportunities as enrichment for animals considered highly intelligent has increased over the last twenty years, but this emphasis on animals considered intelligent may overlook the need for cognitive challenge in species...
Jones, M., Gartland, K. N., Fuller, G. 2021. Effects of visitor presence and crowd size on zoo-housed red kangaroos (Macropus rufus) during and after a covid-19 closure. Animal Behavior and Cognition 8(4), 521–537.
Macropods, particularly kangaroos and wallabies, are common species included in walk-through habitats that put them in close proximity to zoo visitors. However, there has been little research into how visitor presence and density impact the...
Hepps Keeney, C., Harrison, T. M. 2022. Euthanasia complications in non-domestic species. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 3(4), 616–623.
There are very few studies describing euthanasia complications in non-domestic species. The goal of this study was to survey veterinarians to determine what complications may commonly occur during the euthanasia of non-domestic species. An online...
Henaut, Y., Delfour, F. 2023. Manatees in zoological parks throughout the world: History, state, and welfare. Animals 13(20), 3228.
The order Sirenia comprises several species of manatees and one species of dugong. These popular marine mammals are relatively recent acquisitions to zoological parks throughout the world. As far as we know, there are less...
Hanna, P., Frick, E., Kuczaj, S. 2016. A tool use task proves enriching for a captive sea otter (Enhydra lutris). Animal Behavior and Cognition 3(2), 88–94.
Environmental enrichment is used to improve an animal’s physical and psychological well-being while housed in a captive environment. Alligood and Leighty (2015) suggested that enrichment that emulates the natural and preferred behaviors of the species...
Gandia, K. M., Herrelko, E. S., Kessler, S. E. et al. 2023. Understanding circadian and circannual behavioral cycles of captive giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) can help to promote good welfare. Animals 13(15), 2401.
Circadian and circannual cycles of behavior regulate many aspects of welfare including metabolism, breeding, and behavioral interactions. In this study, we aim to demonstrate how systematically determining circadian and circannual cycles can provide insight into...
Free, D., Justice, W. S. M., Smith, S. J. et al. 2022. An approach to assessing zoo animal welfare in a rarely studied species, the common cusimanse Crossarchus obscurus. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 3(3), 420–441.
Objective welfare assessments play a fundamental role in ensuring that positive welfare is achieved and maintained for animals in captivity. The Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG), a welfare assessment tool, has been validated for use...
Fay, C., Miller, L. 2015. Utilizing scents as environmental enrichment: Preference assessment and application with Rothschild giraffe. Animal Behavior and Cognition 2(3), 285–291.
Zoological institutions use environmental enrichment to increase opportunities for animals to engage in species-appropriate behavior. In these facilities, enrichment for giraffe typically consists of different types of feeders to increase the percentage of time spent...
Eyer, A. E., Miller, L. J. 2020. Evaluating the influence of conspecifics on a male giant anteater’s (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) pacing behavior. Animal Behavior and Cognition 7(4), 556–566.
Stereotypic behavior has been studied in various species, but little information exists on stereotypies in giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) under professional care. Giant anteaters are known for their solitary nature and well-developed sense of smell...