Environmental enrichment is the gold standard welfare intervention for captive animals - but effectiveness is highly species-specific and requires evidence-based design.
Evidence-based environmental enrichment design requires understanding species natural history, sensory capabilities, and behavioural repertoire. Enrichment that appears stimulating to humans but does not address species-specific needs may be welfare-neutral or even stressful. Systematic preference testing and behavioural observation are needed to evaluate enrichment effectiveness. The science of enrichment has advanced considerably but application in farms, zoos, and laboratories often lags behind research. Supporting organisations that translate enrichment science into husbandry guidance accelerates real-world welfare benefit.