ABSTRACT
Animal care in research, teaching, and testing facilities has undergone a remarkable transformation in the past two decades, and there is a heightened emphasis on the psychological status of animals living in these institutions. The term behavioral management refers to a comprehensive approach to improving the welfare of captive animals by employing social housing, environmental enrichment, animal training, facility design, and the assessment of behavior and behavioral problems. Behavioral management programs have general goals of increasing species-appropriate behavior, decreasing abnormal behavior, increasing resiliency, and reducing distress within the laboratory environment. Successful behavioral management programs vary widely in design and implementation, but all require the involvement of people with different backgrounds and roles in a research facility working together as a team. Newberry defines environmental enrichment as an improvement in the biological functioning of captive animals resulting from modifications to their environment.
