Why is environmental enrichment required in laboratory animal care?

• A. It supports welfare by allowing species-typical behaviors, reduces stress, and can improve data quality by reducing variability.
• B. It increases cost and stress without benefits.
• C. It is optional and rarely used.
• D. It is prohibited in most facilities.

Answer: (A)

Providing environmental enrichment is required because it helps animals express natural, species-typical behaviors, which supports their welfare. When animals can forage, explore, nest, or engage in social interactions, they experience less chronic stress and fewer abnormal behaviors. That reduction in stress not only benefits the animals’ well-being but also makes physiological and behavioral measures more stable, leading to higher-quality, more reproducible data. While enrichment may involve planning and cost, its welfare and scientific benefits make it a standard part of care in most facilities, and guidelines across many jurisdictions require enrichment appropriate to the species.