I need to determine if enrichment activities (manipulable objects, boxes etc.) benefit the welfare of a chimpanzee group that lives in an enriched enclosure.
Bloomsmith and her colleagues have done much work in this area, as noted above, and there are a large number of papers on this topic.
Bloomsmith, M. A., Alford, P. L. and Maple, T. L. (1988), Successful feeding enrichment for captive chimpanzees. Am. J. Primatol., 16: 155–164. doi: 10.1002/ajp.1350160206
There is also a nice literature on the effects of cognitive challenge as a form of enrichment. For example:
Yamanashi, Y. and Hayashi, M. (2011), Assessing the effects of cognitive experiments on the welfare of captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) by direct comparison of activity budget between wild and captive chimpanzees. Am. J. Primatol., 73: 1231–1238. doi: 10.1002/ajp.20995
CLARK, F. E. and SMITH, L. J. (2013), Effect of a Cognitive Challenge Device Containing Food and Non-Food Rewards on Chimpanzee Well-Being. Am. J. Primatol., 75: 807–816. doi: 10.1002/ajp.22141
There is a huge literature on the subject, as earlier comments have made clear, but some of it is problematic, methodologically. For example, the usual design is the simplest: Before-After comparison (A-B), but better is A-B-A, to see if return to baseline or not. Further, most studies don't use comprehensive ethograms or activity budgets, but concentrate on a few (e.g.) dissipation of bad habits or enhancement of good habits. This does not allow for trade-off complications, e.g. increase in foraging may come at cost of socialising. Further, few studies consider the possibility that 'enrichment' may be stressful, e.g. adding food-vending devices that may increase rates of agonism. Finally, although the main independent variable (usually introduced objects) may be clear, the dependent variables may be less so. Are rates of behavioural output validated with regard to natural behavioural patterns?
there is a research conducted in Malaysia National Zoo on the effect of the enrichment activities.. the enrichment activities significantly impact the foraging behaviour, nest-building and observing.. refer to the link attached..