Mmmm….Enrichment!: Using Behavior Analysis to Model, Manage, Maximize, and Maintain Environmental Enrichment Programs in Applied Animal Settings

Today’s animal care professionals are held to high standards of welfare for the animals in their care. Environmental enrichment is a key component of behavior management programs. Although there is a rich scientific literature on effective enrichment strategies, many applied animal facilities report lacking time, staff, and resources to implement and maintain an effective enrichment program. This workshop will provide attendees with an overview of how the science and practice of behavior analysis are being utilized in animal care settings to evaluate enrichment effectiveness to promote animal welfare. Held at world-renowned Wolf Park in Battle Ground, Indiana, participants will be able to directly observe how behavioral principles are being used to guide animal care practices. Participants will learn how to successfully implement enrichment assessments efficiently and practically. Attendees will achieve workshop learning objectives through a balanced presentation of lecture, guided practice, video demonstrations, direct observation, and group discussion. Supplemental materials for reviewing enrichment programs and ethograms will also be provided. Participants will also learn how to conduct assessments, and be guided through video demonstrations of experiments, preference assessments and observational assessments with a variety of species in zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries, wildlife parks, and animal shelters. Attendees will also participate in discussions about the ethical use of these procedures in their respective animal care settings. Participants will learn best practices for designing, developing, and review enrichment programs using individual-level analysis to facilitate husbandry goals for a variety of species. Participants will also learn how to successfully implement assessment and evaluation tools for husbandry strategies in zoological settings. This workshop is well-suited to animal care professionals who want to learn more about integrating the science of enrichment into their facilities and acquire practical ways for doing so. In addition, this workshop is also relevant to students or professionals in behavior analysis/behavioral science interested in learning how to collaborate with zoological institutions and animal care facilities.