Environmental enrichment for zoo animals has evolved from occasional toys to scientifically designed programmes addressing species-specific behavioural needs and promoting positive welfare states.
Zoo enrichment science has developed into a sophisticated field where enrichment programmes are designed from systematic analysis of species-specific behavioural needs. Priority behaviours — those with strong motivational underpinning — are targeted with the most enrichment resources. For great apes, cognitive challenges that require tool use and social learning are most important. For felids, opportunities to stalk and capture prey replicas address strong predatory drives. Evaluation of enrichment effectiveness through behavioural monitoring ensures that programmes deliver actual welfare benefit rather than merely providing novel objects.