What does this research mean for the field?

Spice-based olfactory enrichment significantly increases behavioral diversity in captive felids, and individual animal preferences are more informative for tailoring enrichment programs than species-level predictions. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of a keeper-safe, spice-based olfactory diffuser on the behavioural diversity and engagement of multiple captive felid species across two institutions.

August 22, 2026Journal of Zoological and Botanical GardensOpen Access

Spice-Based Olfactory Enrichment Increases Behavioural Diversity in Captive Felids: Individual Responses and Practical Implementation

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Authors

CRClaire ReddyUniversity of the Witwatersrand NPNeville PillayUniversity of the Witwatersrand

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Implication

Experimental study reveals spice-based olfactory diffusers increase behavioural diversity in captive big cats, indicating individual-level tailoring optimizes enrichment success.

Key Points

To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of a keeper-safe, spice-based olfactory diffuser on the behavioural diversity and engagement of multiple captive felid species across two institutions.
Assessed 23 captive felids (lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards, cheetahs, and pumas) across two zoological institutions in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Exposed animals to baseline conditions, a compound spice blend, and four individual spices (coriander, paprika, black pepper, garlic), followed by decreasing concentrations of preferred scents.
Quantified behavioural diversity (distinct behaviours per 15-minute session), engagement duration, approach latency, and individual response consistency.
Behavioural diversity increased significantly during scent exposure by 1.9 times at Lory Park and 1.8 times at Johannesburg Zoo relative to baseline (Cohen’s d ≥ 1.2 at both sites).
Full odour concentrations produced significantly longer engagement than low concentrations (approximately twofold at Lory Park and threefold at Johannesburg Zoo), though behavioural diversity did not differ by concentration.
Specific spice types and felid species showed no significant omnibus differences, but individual animals exhibited consistent scent preferences, approach latencies, and response profiles across repeated exposures.

Cite This Study

Reddy et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a895eeeca7ade938187d158 https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg7030032

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Implication

Experimental study reveals spice-based olfactory diffusers increase behavioural diversity in captive big cats, indicating individual-level tailoring optimizes enrichment success.

Spice-Based Olfactory Enrichment Increases Behavioural Diversity in Captive Felids: Individual Responses and Practical Implementation

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Spice-Based Olfactory Enrichment Increases Behavioural Diversity in Captive Felids: Individual Responses and Practical Implementation

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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