Table 5.
Illustration of how cost projections could be calculated to estimate comparisons of different strategies Shown below is the estimated cost to provide 100 monkeys with each enrichment strategy for one year.*
| Device and frequency | Initial device cost |
Food supplies for 1 year |
Labor (hours per week) |
Estimated total (without labor) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low engagement | Pipe with forage food 1x/week | $575.00 | $936.00 | 4.00 | $1,511.00 |
| Higher engagement | Combination Panel with forage food 5x/week | $11,400.00 | $4,680.00 | 21.67 | $16,080.00 |
| Higher engagement | Computer-based videogames delivered 5x/week via contemporary system | $16,830.00 | $19,500.00 | 26.67 | $36,330.00 |
Note: Labor and cost estimates do not include the full range of activities required to implement environmental enrichment. For example, the cost of equipment related to food preparation and storage and the cost of cleaning supplies and equipment are not included. Labor time associated with ordering supplies, maintaining devices, training, and regulatory-associated record-keeping are not included. All of these are necessary costs and can vary significantly across facilities. They are also costs that are likely already part of a facility EEP. This example represents only part of the total cost for an enrichment program and is meant only as a conceptual model to assist evaluation and comparison of different components and strategies within an overall EEP.
Note: Calculation for providing videogames is based on the following assumptions: 1) that each apparatus can be used to provide 2 monkeys with simultaneous computer access; 2) that 1hr sessions of computer access are given to each monkey per day (which exceeds to the amount of time monkeys use a foraging device following its delivery). Thus, each system will provide access to 12 monkeys each day and roughly 9 systems would be needed for 100 monkeys. Obviously, the number of systems could be reduced by giving monkeys less frequent access (i.e., fewer days per week). Conversely, more systems would allow for longer sessions and increased per day engagement. Similarly, to provide a reasonable approximation of costs, calculations are based in assuming that each monkey will use approximately 250 pellets in a 1 hour period.