TRAINING: Enrichment programme

Pedagogical objective

A complex, stimulating - yet above all, appropriate - environment allows animals to express a varied behavioural repertoire, which is essential to their well-being.

How can a comprehensive enrichment programme be defined and implemented in practice? What are the costs and daily management time required for implementation? How can the beneficial effects of enrichments be ensured? How often should the enrichment programme be updated?

Skills acquired at the end of the course

• Understand the different types of stimulation and enrichment that can be provided to animals
• Propose an enrichment programme
• Use the S.P.I.D.E.R model to assess, adjust and modify the enrichment programme
• Explain the role of enrichment in animal welfare

Course content

Module 1: Definition and objectives of enrichment

• Goals, expected benefits and necessary investments
• Historical approach: 5 categories of stimulation
• Stimulation and enrichment related to daily management
• Influence of food presentation on animal behaviour and health
• Is training considered enrichment?
• Enrichments: essential elements for animal welfare?

Module 2: Implementing an enrichment programme

• Selection of stimuli based on species needs
• Risk assessment
• Traceability and monitoring of the enrichment programme

Module 3: Assessing the relevance of an enrichment programme

• S.P.I.D.E.R method
• Validating, documenting and evaluating your programme
• Practical application and field monitoring

Workshops and practical exercises:

• Analysis of enrichments
• Application of the S.PI.D.E.R. method

Pedagogical, technical and supervisory resources

The course includes theoretical contributions, workshops and practical exercises, discussions and feedback. In the training room, the course is led using visual aid (PowerPoint and audiovisual material), while the workshops and practical exercises are carried out within the zoo.

Prior to the training, a preparatory meeting (either via phone or face-to-face) will be held with the supervisors.

Monitoring and assessment

An attendance sheet is signed by each participant and the instructors for each half-day of course. The acquisition of skills is assessed during the course (training games, role-playing, etc.).

The course is assessed based on its quality and the effectiveness of the instructors, using a questionnaire that each participant fills anonymously. A certificate of completion is issued to each participant at the end of the course.