Charismatic species

An animal s needs for stimulus diversity are difficult both to define and quantify (Carlstead 1996). Enrichment is often anthropomorphically rather than ecologically relevant (Chamove 1989), and due to human sensory biases we may fail to realize the importance of olfaction to less charismatic species, or those species with lower perceived levels of olfactory awareness (Hancox 1990 Somerville and Broom 1998). 

Despite a relatively large number of published enrichment studies appearing in peer-reviewed zoo science and welfare journals, there are comparably few olfactory enrichment studies. A review of the current literature shows a distinct bias towards providing olfactory enrichment to charismatic zoo species such as large felids (46% of studies to date), 16% of studies have been undertaken on primates, most commonly prosimians, while reptiles and canids are each represented in only 3% of studies. 

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