Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Jan;56(1):29-54.
doi: 10.1002/jaba.969. Epub 2022 Dec 23.

Applied behavior analysis and the zoo: Forthman and Ogden (1992) thirty years later

Eduardo J Fernandez  1 , Allison L Martin  2
Affiliations

Applied behavior analysis and the zoo: Forthman and Ogden (1992) thirty years later

Eduardo J Fernandez et al. J Appl Behav Anal. 2023 Jan.

Abstract

The field of applied behavior analysis has been directly involved in both research and applications of behavioral principles to improve the lives of captive zoo animals. Thirty years ago, Forthman and Ogden (1992) wrote one of the first papers documenting some of these efforts. Since that time, considerable work has been done using behavioral principles and procedures to guide zoo welfare efforts. The current paper reexamines and updates Forthman and Ogden's original points, with attention to the 5 categories they detailed: (a) promotion of species-typical behavior, (b) reintroduction and repatriation of endangered species, (c) animal handling, (d) pest control, and (e) animal performances. In addition, we outline 3 current and future directions for behavior analytic endeavors: (a) experimental analyses of behavior and the zoo, (b) applied behavior analysis and the zoo, and (c) single-case designs and the zoo. The goal is to provide a framework that can guide future behavioral research in zoos, as well as create applications based on these empirical evaluations.

Keywords: animal training; animal welfare; applied animal behavior; behavioral engineering; environmental enrichment; zoos.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of Literature Search
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Addessi, E. (2008). Food variety‐seeking in tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). Physiology & Behavior, 93(1–2), 304–309. 10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.09.001 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Addessi, E. , Mancini, A. , Crescimbene, L. , Ariely, D. , & Visalberghi, E. (2010). How to spend a token? Trade‐offs between food variety and food preference in tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). Behavioural Processes, 83(3), 267–275. 10.1016/j.beproc.2009.12.012 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Addessi, E. , Stammati, M. , Sabbatini, G. , & Visalberghi, E. (2005). How tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) rank monkey chow in relation to other foods. Animal Welfare, 14(3), 215–222.
    1. Alligood, C. A. , Daneault, A. J. , Carlson, R. C. , Dillenbeck, T. , Wheaton, C. J. , & Savage, A. (2011). Development of husbandry practices for the captive breeding of Key Largo woodrats (Neotoma floridana smalli). Zoo Biology, 30(3), 318–327. 10.1002/zoo.20205 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Alligood, C. A. , Dorey, N. R. , Mehrkam, L. R. , & Leighty, K. A. (2017). Applying behavior‐analytic methodology to the science and practice of environmental enrichment in zoos and aquariums. Zoo Biology, 36(3), 175–185. 10.1002/zoo.21368 - DOI - PubMed