There is a fascinating film about captive rats who were released to a semi-wild habitat. The rats were descended from generations of rats who had all been born in a laboratory. They were released into a ‘farmyard’ setting to see how they reacted to this more natural environment and whether they knew what to do in order to survive. As the commentator says, “It is the first time they have seen the sky.” This great film shows you how they got on.
The first chapter, “Release”, is linked below and visit www.ratlife.org to see the other chapters – well worth watching!
Berdoy, M. 2002. The Laboratory Rat: A Natural History. Film. 27 minutes. www.ratlife.org