Continued from part 1:

e. Exemptions - the attending veterinarian can exempt an individual from participation due to health or condition. The exemption must be reviewed at least every 30 days. If the research protocol requires exemption from an aspect of the program (i.e. single housing or no varied food items), the basis of the exemption needs to be reviewed at least annually. Records of the exemptions must be maintained and available for inspection.

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals provides more specific information about what enrichment programs should include (5). The Guide reminds us that we must be familiar with the species that we care for in our institutions. We must know their social structure, typical activities and what is normal behavior. Also, the enrichment must be safe for animals and for people. Finally, we must evaluate our enrichment plan on a regular basis, continue to improve the plan on a regular basis, continue to improve the plan and document all of these activities.

How to create and evaluate your Enrichment Plan to promote psychological well-being:

The Psychological Well-Being of Nonhuman Primates is an excellent reference (6). It covers the essentials of an enrichment plan. There’s more information on perches and toys (manipulada, foraging situations and furniture) and a discussion of housing design that takes into consideration nonhuman primate species typical behaviors and postures. The book emphasizes the importance of training the people that work with the animals to minimize any distress associated with cage sanitation and capture and to promote the positive effects from the interactions between the animals and people. If you follow the book’s outline you’ll end up with a thorough plan. You can break the plan into small-related segments and write standard operation procedures (SOPS) for your facility.

Here is a basic list of all the items that should be present in your plan.

-The most important part of the plan is pair or group housing for social species.

-Each cage or enclosure should have manipulada (items the animals can pick up and handle). There should be enough for each animal to use the items should be cleaned frequently. The novelty of new toys or the rotation of toys keeps the animals interested and using the manipulada. (7,8,9).

-Food items besides the basic diet can be added on a regular basis. Variety is important. The food should enrich not replace the basic diet. Overfeeding of enrichment foods can lead to obesity and poor nutrition. Veterinarians should be involved in creating or evaluation enrichment items including foods.

Don’t miss part 3 tomorrow!

A complex and stimulating environment can promote animal health. Primates that live in deprived conditions may have behavioral, as well as physical changes, including impaired immune responses and decreased reproductive success (1). Animals that display psychological well being have better problem solving skills and learning abilities (2).

It enhances the environment for animals and people. The brightly colored enrichments catch our attention, add interest to the environment, and remind us that we’re improving the quality of life for the animals in our care.  This secondary enhancement benefits the staff as well as visitors (3).

It’s the law. “Exhibitors must have a documented, species appropriate plan which is adequate to promote psychological well-being.  This is a quote from the Animal Welfare Act, which defines the legal requirements of an enrichment plan into five parts (4). The first two parts (Social grouping and Environmental Enrichment) describe the basis of a program and the last three mention other aspects of the plan (special considerations, restraint devices and exemptions) for animals that require additional enrichment. The five parts of the Animal Welfare Act regarding enrichment to promote psychological well-being are:

a. Social grouping – Social grouping is listed first since it provides the greatest enrichment for social species housed with compatible animals of the same species. Exceptions to social housing included: aggressive, old or debilitated animals and animals with contagious diseases.

b. Environmental Enrichment - The primary enclosure needs to provide species specific activities. Perches, swings, mirrors, objects to manipulate, varied food items, foraging or task-oriented feeding puzzles. Positive interaction with the caretaker or person familiar to the animal also provides enrichment.

c. Special considerations - certain animals need more enrichment. These include: infants and young juveniles, animals that have physical signs or behaviors consistent with psychological distress, those on research projects that restrict an animals activity, individually housed animals and great apes over 50 kg (110 lbs.) which need the spaces and materials to perform species typical behaviors.

d. Restraint Devices – non human primates can only be maintained in restraint devices if it’s associated with a health issue as determined by the attending veterinarian or it’s part of an approved research protocol. Restraint should be for the shortest possible time and if longer than 12 hours, requires at least one hour for unrestrained activity. Longer periods of restraint for research purposes require special consideration and approval by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

Look for part 2 tomorrow!