Enrichment and Social Housing Resources

The following are provided as additional sources for education and information outside of the contents of the OLAW website. These resources are for educational purposes only; their inclusion on this page does not constitute an endorsement or approval by OLAW.

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)
• Resource Book for the Design of Animal Exercise Protocols, Copyright 2006, APS (545 KB)

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:
  • Full series (2.2 MB)
  • Baboons, NIH Pub No. 05-5745 (1.3 MB)
  • Capuchins, NIH Pub No. 05-5746 (1.2 MB)
  • Chimpanzees, NIH Pub No. 05-5748 (2.2 MB)
  • Macaques, NIH Pub No. 05-5744 (1.3 MB)
  • Marmosets and Tamarins, NIH Pub No. 05-5747(1 MB)
  • Squirrel Monkeys, NIH Pub No. 05-5749 (1.2 MB)
• 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