Animal Training, Environmental Enrichment, and Animal Welfare: A History of Behavior Analysis in Zoos

Eduardo J Fernandez,Allison L Martin

doi:10.3390/jzbg2040038

Eduardo J Fernandez, Allison L Martin

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg2040038

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Abstract

The modern zoo has been associated with two major behavioral welfare advances: (a) the use of training to increase voluntary husbandry care, and (b) the implementation of environmental enrichment to promote naturalistic behaviors. Both practices have their roots in behavior analysis, or the operant conditioning-centered, reward-based approach to behavioral psychology. Operant conditioning served as the foundation for the development of reinforcement-based training methods commonly used in zoos to make veterinary and husbandry procedures easier and safer for animals and their caregivers. Likewise, operant conditioning, with its focus on arranging environmental antecedents and consequences to change behavior, also provided a framework for successful environmental enrichment practices. In this paper, we outline the key individuals and events that shaped two of the cornerstones of the modern zoo: (1) the emergence of reward-based husbandry training practices, and (2) the engineering of environmental enrichment. In addition, we (3) suggest ways in which behavior analysis can continue to advance zoo welfare by (i) expanding the efficacy of environmental enrichment, (ii) using within-subject methodology, and (iii) improving animal-visitor interactions. Our goal is to provide a historical and contextual reference for future efforts to improve the well-being of zoo animals.

Highlights

Due to the many advancements in zoo animal welfare and management, those familiar with modern, accredited zoos might expect to find diverse, enriched exhibits focused on the needs of each species, knowledgeable zookeepers well-versed in animal welfare and training, and visitor education experiences with an emphasis on the conservation of the zoo animals
Many of the behavioral practices found in modern zoos can be traced back to pioneers in operant conditioning such as B
Behavior analytic-driven advances in animal training and environmental enrichment have improved the welfare of zoo animals and have benefited animal care workers and zoo visitors

Summary

Introduction

Due to the many advancements in zoo animal welfare and management, those familiar with modern, accredited zoos might expect to find diverse, enriched exhibits focused on the needs of each species, knowledgeable zookeepers well-versed in animal welfare and training, and visitor education experiences with an emphasis on the conservation of the zoo animals. The modern zoo itself can be defined by two major behavioral advances focused on improving welfare: (1) the use of animal training procedures to increase voluntary participation in husbandry or other veterinary procedures by the zoo animals [1,2,3], and (2) the implementation of environmental enrichment to decrease detrimental and increase species-typical behaviors [4,5,6]. These advances were developed through decades of research and practices that incorporated behavioral principles to identify desirable outcomes for animals and visitors alike. Our goal is to detail the important role behavior analysis has had in the formation of the modern zoo, as well as how such behavioral principles can guide continued welfare progress in zoos and similar settings

The Emergence of Reward-Based Zoo Husbandry Training Practices

The Engineering of Environmental Enrichment in Zoos

The Future of Behavior Analysis in Zoos

Findings

Conclusions