Case Study: Environmental enrichment practices applied to a lesser anteater (Tamandua tetradactyla- Linaeus, 1758), at the Mantenedor de Fauna Fazenda Palmares 1875 - IBIMM

Environmental enrichment in public and/or private institutions is extremely important, as it provides quality of life and well-being to the animals covered, when as close as possible to their natural environment. We can carry out enrichment in numerous animal groups, whether vertebrates or invertebrates present in captivity such as: zoos, keepers, refuges, farms, laboratories and others. This study focuses on the introduction of environmental enrichment for a species of Little Anteater (Tamandua tetradactyla) kept in captivity, which is part of the living collection of the wildlife maintainer at Fazenda Palmares IBIMM. The main objective was to observe and monitor the animal's behavior when introduced into an environment different from its captive enclosure and observe the changes generated over three distinct phases (over a period of 18 hours and divided into 06 hours): pre-enrichment, during which observations were recorded and data collected on the animal's behavior in its enclosure; enrichment, which covers the entire quality of life process, which includes the movement of the animal, its behavior, the obstacles encountered in the process, interactions with the area, and the methods used; and finally, post-enrichment, when the results obtained in this study were evaluated. The methodology adopted to conduct this study was carried out through the collection and recording of data, observation of the animal, interpretation and validation of the results obtained. These were very positive and the animal's physical conditioning can be stimulated naturally and sustainably. It was possible to adapt the test enclosure to the animal's needs, but it was not entirely feasible, as it required a lot of time, resources and labor. It would be necessary for all this demand to be met by implementing enrichment management into the animal's routine twice a week. If this enrichment management was implemented, following the standard already established by this study and based on the information collected by it, it would be possible to promote a significant increase in the quality of life and physical, psychological and cognitive well-being of the specimen, in addition to maintaining its physiology and general health, by natural means, without the need for aggressive and/or invasive mechanical and anthropomorphic interventions. In general, we were very successful with the results that, once explored correctly, are capable of significantly changing the quality of life and general well-being of this species kept in captivity. It was concluded, therefore, that despite being an animal accustomed to captivity, its quality of life and well-being will be increased exponentially, if the study of this research is carried out at least twice a week, during the time already established and conditioned to the animal. Likewise, it was possible to identify preferences and interests expressed by the animal, never before documented, where the most evident were the interaction with natural climbing resources (trees and bushes) and the soil for digging.