{"id":17,"date":"2019-06-08T16:38:23","date_gmt":"2019-06-08T15:38:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zoosnippets.com\/?p=17"},"modified":"2021-03-10T22:26:13","modified_gmt":"2021-03-10T21:26:13","slug":"the-s-p-i-d-e-r-framework","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zoosnippets.com\/post\/the-s-p-i-d-e-r-framework","title":{"rendered":"The S.P.I.D.E.R. Framework"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

To set up and maintain a well-thought animal behavioural enrichment program, you need a decent layout for such a program. The S.P.I.D.E.R. framework is a helpful tool to fulfil this. So let’s take a look at how the framework works and how to implement it in your zoo.\u00a0The S.P.I.D.E.R. model allows institutions to set up, review, refine and modify environmental enrichment programs to fit their own needs. This framework is also used to set up, review, refine and modify animal training programs. We will cover that in another article soon.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t

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  1. Before we start…<\/a>
  2. S \u2013 Setting goals<\/a>
  3. P \u2013 Planning<\/a>
  4. I \u2013 Implementing<\/a>
  5. D \u2013 Documenting<\/a>
  6. E \u2013 Evaluating<\/a>
  7. R \u2013 Readjustment<\/a>
  8. Further reading<\/a><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n
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    Before we start…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Before we start setting up a plan for enriching the animals, it is good practice to understand the need for and relevance for an animal enrichment program. So, what is enrichment<\/a>? And when do we need to enrich the animals? In the most basic form, enrichment can be translated as “the action of improving or enhancing the quality or value of something” (Oxford dictionaries). So, it is clear that it is an action for improvement or quality enhancement. A better definition is given by Viktor and Annie Reinhardt (1998) describing enrichment as “the provision of stimuli which promote the expression of species-appropriate behavioural and mental activities in an understimulating environment”. From this definition, we can conclude a couple of crucial parameters vital for an effective enrichment program:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. We want to enrich to stimulate species-specific and above all species-appropriate behavioural and mental activities<\/li>
    2. We enrich animals that are in an understimulating environment that can not express there whole behavioural repertoire.<\/li>
    3. The enrichment needs to be stimulating<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      It is not openly stated by many zoos, but nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that animals in captivity need some form of behavioural stimulation. Captivity, in itself, fundamentally limit their range of activities, experiences and stimuli. With this in mind, let’s have a look at the first step of the S.P.I.D.E.R. model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      S \u2013 Setting goals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      We want to set goals to improve the species-appropriate behavioural and mental activities. We can increase the behavioural diversity, increase the range of normal (wild) behaviour patterns, reduce the frequencies of abnormal behaviour, increase positive utilization of the environment and\/or increase the ability to cope with challenges in a more normal way (Young, 2003). To set clear goals, we have to take a dive in the natural\/wild behaviours of the species in question and learning the natural and individual history of the species. We have to make many considerations which may influence the choice of enrichment, including social, cognitive and biological needs<\/a>. We should also take into account the activity budget of the animal. When we list the behaviours that are appropriate for the animal, we have to shorten the list by the behaviours we want to encourage or discourage. This will result in the goal behaviours for the enrichment program. A possible setup to determine goal behaviours can be found by this example document<\/a>, to support you in setting goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Possible setup to determine goal behaviours:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      P \u2013 Planning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      With the planning, you are going to decide which enrichment you want to implement in the program to achieve the desired behavioural goals. When developing an enrichment plan involves making many decisions, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n