Enriquecimento ambiental como ferramenta na manutenção do bem-estar de animais selvagens em cativeiro.

Abstract

Ensuring the welfare of animals in captivity is a complex and challenging objective, especially if we consider the biological and behavioral individualities of each species. Environmental enrichment is a beneficial tool that helps in maintaining the well-being of wild animals, through the introduction into the physical space of elements based on the behavior of life in situ, which tend to provide the expression of their natural behavior. Studying the biology of the species and observing the techniques through ethograms, can provide the improvement of the application, as well as the reduction of stressing agents and stereotyped behaviors. This review aims to address and present the types of environmental enrichment, characteristics and benefits for species in the condition of captivity, through the evaluation of scientific studies published over 10 years (between 2011 and 2021). The studies found were divided into two groups: on mammals and birds, with tabled and explained data, we present the types of environmental enrichment used, the most studied species, the objects and variations of AS, and we realized the need to apply this tool and studies with other captive species. We conclude that the use of EA brings positive results for wild animals in captivity.