The bush dog (Speothos venaticus) is a relatively unknown, south american canid species classified as vulnerable. As a part of conservation efforts to maintain vulnerable and endangered species, zoos and wildlife parks house groups of the different species. But animals housed by humans risk developing harmful behaviours. To improve the enclosures of the animals, zoos and wildlife parks implement various designs of environmental enrichment. All animals do not behave in the same way, and different species have different needs. Therefore, it is important to consider the needs and behaviours of the specific species when designing environmental enrichment. Food motivation is a good foundation to compare motivation for other needs.
This study serves to investigate food motivation in bush dogs for use in designing environmental enrichment.