ASSESSING ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT FOR JUVENILE JAMAICAN-BOAS EPICRATES-SUBFLAVUS STEJNEGER, 1901

The Jamaican boa Epicrates subflavus is found exclusively on the islan d of Jamaica. Persecuted by the human population and with an extremely fragmented distribution, it is in urgent need of protection. Attempts at breeding this species in captivity have been successful, but littl e research has been carried out on the use and effects of enrichment i n enclosures. In particular, juveniles are normally reared in small, s imple, traditional, rearing vivaria. The consequences of this in terms of behaviour, growth and health are unknown. This study set out to de vise various straightforward ways of enriching the environments of the rearing vivaria and to assess the behaviour of juvenile Jamaican boas under a combination of differing enrichment regimes. Results indicate d that the provision of a hide site is strongly preferred and that bra nches appear to stimulate activity in the form of climbing behaviour a s well as providing a perch site. The use of bark chippings as a subst rate was strongly associated with increased snake activity and may be a useful enrichment technique for display vivaria also. The use and ad vantages of enrichment in the captive husbandry of reptiles is discuss ed.