Enrichment

Setting Up an Enrichment Program

There is a framework that is used for designing and maintaining enrichment programs to set goals and maintain consistent processes. This framework tool consists of goal setting, planning, implementation, documentation, evaluation, and reassessment.  For more information on this process, please see www.animalenrichment.org.

Each institution may have its own set of goals and criteria for its program, which fundamentally should start with an examination of the animal’s natural history, activity patterns, and behaviors seen in the wild. For rhinos, simply providing a wallow provides the opportunity to choose self-maintenance behaviors important to skin care. Since rhinos spend the majority of their day eating, keepers could look at feeding strategies that encourage species-specific foraging throughout the day rather than just once a day. Keepers could also investigate the possibility of changing herd dynamics or composition to provide social behavior opportunities.

Holding facilities, exhibit spaces, and/or any constraints that may be unique to the facility should be examined since these areas will directly impact options for enrichment. The temperament and behavior of the specific individual(s) also need to be taken into consideration. Once these criteria have been reviewed, a set of goals can be established.

Enrichment can correlate aspects of ethology, psychology, and animal husbandry to create a more stimulating environment for the animal (Mellen and Ellis, 1996). This has led to the inclusion of enrichment options in exhibit designs. Exhibit enrichment can be done by varying topography, landscaping, utilizing deadfall and trees, creating dirt mounds, planting vegetation, providing a wallow, and alternating the substrate (dirt, leaf litter, mulch, etc.). Other options (public view versus privacy, shaded area versus sun, etc.) can all provide the animal with some control over their environment and the ability to make choices throughout the day. The aforementioned exhibit variables can contribute to effective enrichment, especially when used in conjunction with other approved enrichment activities. For example, novel scents/perfumes/extracts can be used to create a “trail” throughout the exhibit, while holes drilled in deadfall can serve as an anchoring point for browse, and either one can provide the potential for exploration and create options for the animal. The American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK) has created The Enrichment Notebook (Chan, 2004) that provides suggested guidelines and contains information on exhibit enrichment, dietary enrichment, and a section on safety considerations. When using enrichment devices that are awkward and heavy, it is important to secure these items safely, not only for the animals but for keeper staff as well. Fortunately, these somewhat bulky items can be secured safely by using pulley systems, and/or other equipment can be used to hoist devices to enable hanging them higher. A synopsis of rhino enrichment options that are currently being used at zoological facilities can be found in Table 2.8[1] . This table gives suggestions as to the primary area of use as well as its presentation. Note that food items should be part of the overall diet. Hay, browse, biscuits, treats, or produce should be offered according to nutrition guidelines. Instead of focusing on the type of food being offered, how the food is presented can provide a behavior-focused enrichment strategy. Examples of enrichment are outlined below. These options must be used in compliance with a facility’s enrichment protocol, regulations, and safety considerations. (Miller and Lorscher, 2026) 

A successful enrichment program can be briefly summarized as one that:

1. Establishes behavioral goals for the animal

2. Uses and established enrichment approval processes that includes:

• Behavior goal for the enrichment

• Provides a detailed description of the enrichment strategy (timing, location, construction material, thickness, dimensions, size of holes, etc.)

• Identifies and addresses facility or exhibit constraints

• Identifies and addresses safety concerns for animals and people

• Cost estimates

1. Identifies process for enrichment submissions, feedback, and decisions

2. Uses an agreed-upon implementation schedule (calendars, etc.)

3. Identifies how staff will document and/or track if intended behavioral goals are met

4. Adjusts the enrichment strategies as needed to meet behavioral goals.

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