OCTOPUSES IN CAPTIVITY: THE EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT ON BEHAVIOUR, COGNITION, AND DEVELOPMENT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22707677Keywords:
Octopuses Behaviour, Environmental Enrichment, Object Manipulation, Cognitive Engagement, Stress-Related BehavioursAbstract
This study explores how environmental enrichment affects the behaviour and development of octopuses in captive environments. Octopuses are known for their high intelligence, strong problem-solving abilities, and complex behaviours, meaning that the conditions they are kept in can significantly influence how they act and respond. Secondary research from scientific studies and experiments was used to examine the impact of enrichment. In this context, environmental enrichment refers to the inclusion of features such as hiding spaces, objects to manipulate, and more complex surroundings that allow interaction and exploration. Overall, the findings show a clear pattern. Octopuses in enriched environments tend to display a wider range of behaviours, increased exploration, and more frequent interaction with their surroundings. They also show stronger engagement in problem-solving tasks and fewer stress-related behaviours compared to those kept in minimal environments. These results support the idea that enrichment plays an important role in both behavioural expression and overall well-being. It highlights how important it is to consider environmental conditions when studying or housing octopuses, particularly given their cognitive complexity.
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