We have gone to great lengths to provide these animals with everything we believe they need for a happy healthy life. We provide them with the best food, the perfect mate, a well studied social group, and exhibits that often look better than the species' own natural habitat. However, even the most visually attractive and naturalistic exhibits do not encourage animals to utilize the carefully planned enclosure or practice species typical behavior. Animals in zoos often lack the opportunity and motivation to use their instincts and adaptations to earn a living like their wild counterparts. When enrichment and training interface, we create an environment where captive animals have opportunities to experience choices, make decisions, and experience the consequence of their actions.
Training is a tool that can create countless enrichment opportunities for animals.
Training can also help reduce stress, increase skill and confidence levels, and even provide enrichment for their human caregivers. There is a good argument that some levels of stress are actually enriching to animals. Stress and anxiety are a normal part of life in the wild for most animals. However, it is generally accepted that relieving stress levels in zoo animals is beneficial. Training can relieve stress by providing opportunities for animals to participate in their own care.