Wood Enrichment

Wood Enrichment Products

The use of inanimate devices, toys and other objects has often been found to be an excellent source of enrichment with nonhuman primates (NHPs) as well as several other species. Dr. Viktor Reinhardt reports in a Feb. 15, 2000 (PEF) Primate Enrichment Forum - discussion on wooden objects, that there is a general consensus that wooden objects provide inexpensive, safe, long term and effective stimulation for the expression of non-injurious, species-typical behavior. The literature reports the following beneficial behavioral activities in macaques; manipulating, gnawing, nibbling, chewing, hugging, dragging, rolling, playing and perching. It not only helps counteract boredom but also benefits dental health. Dr. Reinhardt adds that it is his understanding that the routine use of wooden objects poses no obstacle to AAALAC accreditation when coupled with the prerequisite of "common sense" for cleaning and replacing of wooden materials. Wood pieces can be cleaned daily with warm water and disinfected once every 2 weeks during routine cage sanitation (Brinkman 1996, Reinhardt 1990a, Reinhardt 1990b). Only deciduous tree branch pieces freshly harvested from saplings grown in clean soil are taken and shipped fresh to Bio-Serv. Not all woods are accept able or appropriate: woods may come from, but are not excluded to, the following types of hard woods which tend to chip rather than strip: Maple, Birch; and Red Oak. ** (**Hardest Wood / Preferred.)