When Enrichment Increases Arousal
From Coffee with the Critters by The Animal Behavior Center
March 3, 2026 · 26 min
About this episode
Lara discusses the complexities of animal enrichment and its impact on welfare.
When you evaluate enrichment, what variables are you actually measuring? After working with wolves, birds, primates, reptiles, and numerous species for the past two decades, one lesson continues to surface: Not all enrichment improves welfare. In this episode, Lara talks about when enrichment increases arousal instead of meaningful engagement. Busy does not equal beneficial. Intensity does not equal appropriate enrichment. Overstimulation does not equal welfare.
People in this episode
Host: Lara
Topics covered
- enrichment
- animal welfare
- arousal
- engagement
- overstimulation
Keywords
- enrichment
- animal behavior
- welfare
- arousal
- engagement
- overstimulation
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