An evaluation of the role of 'biological evidence' in zoo and aquarium enrichment practices

Behaviour, Furnishing and Vertical Space Use of Captive Callimico (Callimico goeldii): Implications for Welfare

Provision of optimal captive care should be supported by species-specific evidence. Callimico (Callimico goeldii) is a small South American callitrichid primate. This study sought to address gaps in species-specific knowledge and captive management research by examining differences in callimico behaviour across multiple collections, investigating vertical enclosure use and a possible association between specific behaviours and vertical zones. Observational research was conducted at five European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) organisations, in exhibits that were visually divided into four vertical zones. Instantaneous scan sampling was used to record behaviour and location of callimico over a six-day period at each collection, exceeding 160 observational hours. Significant differences were observed in foraging between collections and were much lower than the recommendations in Best Practice Guidelines, although near-wild levels were recorded in one enclosure. At an average height of 2 m, callimico utilized a similar vertical space across very different enclosures, regardless of overall available height, reflective of their natural ecology. The association between whole food items and increased foraging time, horizontal branches and locomotion and deep substrate and diversity of behaviours, offers further species-specific evidence of how the callimico use their captive environment. Our findings complement current EAZA guidelines to support species appropriate care for callimico and makes specific recommendations for further research.

Bridging pure cognitive research and cognitive enrichment

Cognitive enrichment is a growing subset of environmental enrichment for captive animals. However, it has been difficult for practitioners to design, implement, and evaluate relevant and appropriate cognitive challenges. Even though pure comparative cognition researchers focus on fundamental evolutionary questions, their knowledge and expertise can also shape the future of cognitive enrichment. This paper describes the motive, means, and opportunity to do so. Taxon-specific summaries of animal cognition (including inter-individual variation in skill and effects of motivation), and experimental designs (including the task itself, training, and reward) need to be accessible to practitioners in applied settings, such as farms, zoos, and sanctuaries. Furthermore, I invite pure researchers to directly evaluate their cognitive research program as enrichment and thus bridge the disciplines of animal cognition and welfare.