Refinement Database

Database on Refinement of Housing, Husbandry, Care, and Use of Animals in Research

This database, created in 2000, is updated every four months with newly published scientific articles, books, and other publications related to improving or safeguarding the welfare of animals used in research.

Tips for using the database:

  • This landing page displays all of the publications in the database.
  • Use the drop-down menus to filter these publications by Animal Type, Setting, and/or Topic.
  • Clicking on a parent category (e.g., Rodent) will include publications relating to all the items in that category (e.g., Chinchilla, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, etc.).
  • You may also add a keyword to further narrow your search.
  • Please note that at this time, only publications dated 2010 or later (with some exceptions) can be filtered by Animal Type and Topic, and only publications dated 2020 or later (with some exceptions) can be filtered by Setting. Most publications older than 2010 can only be searched by keyword. 
Cole, M. 1990. The effects of separation from and subsequent reintroduction to an established group on a primiparous female lowland gorilla. Proceedings: Columbus Zoo Gorilla Workshop, 16-26.

Isolating a gorilla mother from her cagemates at the time of parturition can lead to abusive behavior directed towards the infant .... Social isolation is detrimental to the well-being of both mother and infant, and...

Coelho, A. M., Carey, K. D. 1990. A social tethering system for non-human primates used in laboratory research. Laboratory Animal Science 40, 388-394.

A custom-designed social-tether cage system is described. During the four years that the tether-social-group cages have been operational, we have never had a baboon in adjacent cage or even in the same cage bite the...

Cohn, R. H. 1990. Interspecies communication for gorilla enrichment and research. Proceedings: Columbus Zoo Gorilla Workshop, 8-15.

Communication between different species may provide a useful mode of environmental enrichment.

Clarke, M. R., Phillippi, K. M., Falkenstein, J. A. et al. 1990. Training Corral-Living Rhesus Monkeys for Fecal and Blood Sample Collection (Videotape With Commentary). Delta Primate Research Center.Available on loan from Animal Care Audio-Visual Materials, WRPRC, 1220 Capitol Court, Madison, WI 53715, USA, Covington, Kentucky.

Training technique is explained and the animals' reactions demonstrated.

Clark, B. 1990. Environmental enrichment: An overview of theory and application for captive non-human primates. Animal Keepers' Forum 17(8), 272-282.

A comprehensive review of enrichment studies.

Chatfield, J. J. 1990. Notes on the introduction of an aggressive male gorilla at the Los Angeles Zoo. Proceedings: Columbus Zoo Gorilla Workshop, 2-4.

The integration of a conspicuously aggressive adult gorilla into an established group of young animals plus one adult female is described. The introduction took close to two years and lots of patience and effort. The...

Chamove, A. S., Moodie, E. M. 1990. Are alarming events good for captive monkeys? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 27, 169-176.

To evaluate a hypothesis suggesting that brief arousal may be beneficial to laboratory animals, 39 cotton-top tamarins living in four families were observed following stimulating husbandry procedures [capture, birds passing overhead]. Arousal led to an...

Chamove, A. S., Moodie, E. M. 1990. Objective criteria of enrichment. Congress of the International Primatological Society, NGY19.

39 cotton-top tamarins living in four families were observed following stimulating husbandry procedures [capture, birds passing overhead]. Arousal led to an improvement in behaviour (i.e., decrease in activity and an increase in affiliation) during the...

Champoux, M., DiGregorio, G., Schneider, M. L. et al. 1990. Inanimate environmental enrichment for group-housed rhesus macaque infants. American Journal of Primatology 22, 61-67.

Inanimate enrichment options for group-housed rhesus infants are described.

Catlow, G. 1990. Introducing Killa-Killa. Gorilla Gazette 4(1), 8-10.

The successful introduction procedure of an adult female to a group of two adult females and one adult male gorilla is described in detail.

Cabib, S., Algeri, S., Puglisi-Allegora, S. 1990. Behavioral and biochemical changes monitored in two inbred strains of mice during exploration of an unfamiliar environment. Physiology and Behavior 47, 749-753.

Novelty of the environment is a powerful stimulus to activate the pituitary-adrenal axis.

Burt, D. A., Plant, M. 1990. Observations on a caging system for housing stump-tailed macaques. Animal Technology 41, 175-179.

This paper describes the introduction of a modified caging system and the benefits to both the animals and staff. The removal of metal grids at the bottom of the cage, and the introduction of direct...

Brent, L., Lee, D. R., Eichberg, J. W. 1990. Primate puzzleboard: A simple environmental enrichment device for captive chimpanzees. American Journal of Primatology 20, 177 (Abstract).

A feeding enrichment device is described.

Brainard, G. C., Sherry, D., Skwerer, R. G. et al. 1990. Effects of different wavelength in Seasonal Affective Disorder. Journal of Affective Disorder 20, 209-216.

Bright light treatment has an antidepressant effect in people suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Bodamer, M. D., Fouts, R. S., Fouts, D. H. et al. 1990. Captive chimpanzee care and enrichment: A day in the life. American Journal of Primatology 20, 176 (Abstract).
Bodamer, M. D., Goodall, J., Fouts, R. S. 1990. Implementation of a daily enrichment program for adult chimpanzees at a large primate facility. American Journal of Primatology 20, 176 (Abstract).

An enrichment program for chimpanzees in the research laboratory setting is described.

Bodamer, M. D. 1990. The use of raisin tubes as an enrichment device. American Journal of Primatology 20, 175 (Abstract).

Knotted plastic tubing filled with raisins. Ninety-four percent of the time that the tubes were in the cage the [single-housed] chimpanzees were interacting with them. Some animals used twigs to remove the raisins in a...

Bloomsmith, M. A., Keeling, M. E., Lambeth, S. P. 1990. Videotapes: Environmental enrichment for singly housed chimpanzees . Lab Animal 19(1), 42-46.

Subjects watched the videotapes an average of 75% of 20-minute test sessions. The results bring into discussion the value of enrichment that is used by [group-housed] nonhuman primates, but that does not improve behavioral measures...

Bloomsmith, M. A., Finlay, T. W., Merhalski, J. J. et al. 1990. Rigid plastic balls as enrichment devices for captive chimpanzees. Laboratory Animal Science 40(3), 319-322.

The mean percentage of ball-use time for all subjects during the study [first ten hours after initial presentation] was 7.1%. There was no sex difference in ball use. Age and housing effects were obtained, with...

Bloomsmith, M. A., Alford, P. L., Keeling, M. E. 1990. Promoting chimpanzee well-being through applied behavioral research. American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) Regional Conference Proceedings, 70-76.
Bloom, K. R. 1990. Environmental enrichment: Behavioral response of rhesus to puzzle feeders. Congress of the International Primatological Society , 74 (Abstract).

A commercial puzzle feeder loaded with 10 whole peanuts is tested in two single-housed adult males.

Bielitzki, J. T., Susor, T. G., Elias, K. et al. 1990. Improved cage design for single housing of social nonhuman primates. Laboratory Animal Science 40, 428-431.

Cage design allows a choice between visual contact and privacy, maximizes opportunity for direct social contact and access to additional floor space.

Bercovitch, F. B., Tena-Betancourt, E., Kessler, M. J. et al. 1990. A multi-functional environmental enrichment device for primate enclosures. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 29(1), 16-17.

We describe an extremely cost-effective procedure for modifying captive enclosures that does not interfere with research procedures and that provides the monkeys with a multi-functional device that probably enhances the captive environment. ... [Telephone spools]...

Bennett, B. T. 1990. Alternative methodologies. In: Essentials for Animal Research: A Primer for Research Personnel. Bennett, B. T., Brown, M. J., Schofield, J. C. (eds), 13-25. United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD.

A brief discussion of ways to avoid stressing research animals. Almost every animal commonly used in the laboratory responds positively to a little tender loving care. It's inexpensive, readily portable, safe even at the highest...

Bayne, K. 1990. Environmental enrichment for primates. In: Animal Care and Use: Policy Issues in the 1990s. Office of Animal Care and Use, N. (ed), 37-42. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.

Review and discussion of environmental enrichment for primates.