Abstract
Enrichment has become a key aspect of captive husbandry practices as a means of improving animal welfare by increasing environmental stimuli. However, the enrichment methods that are most effective varies both between and within species, and thus evaluation underpins successful enrichment programs. Enrichment methods are typically based upon previously reported successes and those primarily with mammals, with one of the main goals of enrichment research being to facilitate predictions about which methods may be most effective for a particular species. Yet, despite growing evidence that enrichment is beneficial for reptiles, there is limited research on enrichment for Varanidae, a group of lizards known as monitor lizards. As a result, it can be difficult for keepers to implement effective enrichment programs as time is a large limiting factor. In order for appropriate and novel enrichment methods to be created, it is necessary to understand a species’ natural ecology, abilities, and how they perceive the world around them. This is more difficult for non-mammalian species as the human-centered lens can be a hinderance, and thus reptile enrichment research is slow and lagging behind that of higher vertebrates. This review discusses the physiological, cognitive, and behavioral abilities of Varanidae to suggest enrichment methods that may be most effective.
Highlights
Over the course of the last century, zoos have been transformed from menageries to institutions rooted in science
Long considered the father of zoo biology, Hediger first recognized the inadequacies of the zoo environment in 1950 and emphasized the need to promote the well-being of captive animals [1]
This can be achieved by providing captive animals with opportunities that allow them to display their behavioral capabilities, which was the goal of Markowitz, one that he termed ‘behavioral engineering’ in the
Summary
Over the course of the last century, zoos have been transformed from menageries to institutions rooted in science. The focus in enrichment research has moved from the need to provide enhancements in husbandry to how they can be rigorously assessed in order to monitor and improve welfare [5] Despite the attention this field of zoo science has received, there is still the general opinion that enrichment is a supplementary aspect of care and not integral to the daily husbandry [5,6]. Enrichment programs should aim to provide captive animals with enrichment methods from each category, rather than just one [9,10], to improve animal welfare [3] and promote the natural phenotype of their wild counterparts [11] This is achieved by meeting goals such as increasing activity levels, natural/species-specific behaviors, choice and control, and behavioral diversity [12], as well as reducing the prevalence, or onset, of stereotypic or abnormal behaviors [13]. A growing body of evidence suggests that one group of reptiles, the varanids, have high cognitive abilities and as such understanding how to meet the motivational needs of such a group of species is imperative to improving welfare standards in their care
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