Enrichment and Social Housing Resources

The following resources are available to assist PHS awardee institutions in enhancing the care and well-being of animals used in research, testing, and training.

General

• Enrichment Record. An online portal for discussing animal enrichment.
• Guidelines for General Species Environmental Enrichment (PDF), NIH ARAC.
  • Appendix 1: Environmental Enrichment of Rodents (PDF)
  • Appendix 2: Environmental Enrichment (Behavioral Management) of Nonhuman Primates (PDF)
• Refinement, ALTEX 31(1), 4-10, 2014. A paper examining the state of animal welfare in the context of refinement.
• Symposium on Social Housing of Laboratory Animals (August 22-23, 2013 | October 5-6, 2014 | March 17-18, 2016 | May 1-2, 2017 | June 4-5, 2018 | June 3-4, 2019)

Nonhuman Primates

• Prescott MJ, Clark C, Dowling WE, Shurtleff AC. Opportunities for Refinement of Non-Human Primate Vaccine Studies. Vaccines 9, 284
• NIH Guide Notice: NOT-OD-21-022, November 5, 2020. Notice of Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare Statement on Oversight of NIH-owned Chimpanzees
• OLAW Statement on NIH-owned Chimpanzees (PDF), October 2020
• Federal Chimpanzee Sanctuary Site Visit Report (PDF), October 2016
• Report on OLAW Site Visits to the National Primate Research Centers (PDF), October 2016
• NIH Guide Notice: NOT-OD-17-010, October 25, 2016. Reports on Site Visits to the National Primate Research Centers and the Federally Supported Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
• Report to Office of Extramural Research Acting Director on Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) Site Visits to Chimpanzee Facilities (PDF), July 2010
• NIH Guide Notice: NOT-OD-10-121, August 6, 2010. Report on Site Visits to Chimpanzee Facilities and Associated Resources to Aid Grantee Institutions.
• OLAW Special Online Seminar Recording: “AC and OLAW Perspective on Nonhuman Primate Enrichment and Social Housing”
• OLAW FAQ. Is social housing required for nonhuman primates when housed in a research setting?
• OLAW FAQ. Should positive reinforcement training be used for nonhuman primates?
• Environmental Enrichment for Nonhuman Primates Resource Guide. A bibliographic guide published by USDA, National Agricultural Library, Animal Welfare Information Center.
• Environmental Enrichment in the 21st Century . ILAR Journal, 2017, Vol. 58, No. 2, pp 295-307.
• Enrichment for Nonhuman Primates, 2005. A series of six booklets that serve as an introduction to the subject of environmental enrichment for primates housed in a diversity of conditions. The booklets may be downloaded from Publications and Resources where instructions are also available for requesting hard copy.
• A Guide to the Behavior and Enrichment of Laboratory Macaques, 2013. An introductory guide published by Charles River. To request copies, email askcharlesriver@crl.com (limit 3 copies per request).
• The Macaque Website , NC3Rs. Provides referenced information and practical guidance on the natural history and behavior of macaques, their care and management in captivity, and ways to assess their welfare.
• Non-Human Primate Well-Being , AJP, 2017, Vol. 79, Issue 1.

Rabbits

• Refining rabbit care, UFAW/RSPCA, 2008. A resource for those working with rabbits in research.

Rodents

• ​A Guide to the Behavior & Enrichment of Laboratory Rodents, 2012. An introductory guide published by Charles River. To request copies, email askcharlesriver@crl.com (limit 3 copies per request).