Macaque

A metric-based, meta-analytic appraisal of environmental enrichment efficacy in captive primates (2025)

Non-human primates (hereafter ‘primates') constitute a common group of animals in captivity but their captive maintenance involves ethical and husbandry issues, many of which can be addressed through environmental enrichment (hereafter ‘enrichment'). Enrichment is often applied in a trial-and-error fashion...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Gibbon, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Duncan, L. M., Pillay, N. 2025. A metric-based, meta-analytic appraisal of environmental enrichment efficacy in captive primates. Animals 15(6), 799.

Home-cage training for non-human primates: an opportunity to reduce stress and study natural behavior in neurophysiology experiments (2025)

Research involving non-human primates remains a cornerstone in fields such as biomedical research and systems neuroscience. However, the daily routines of laboratory work can induce stress in these animals, potentially compromising their well-being and the reliability of experimental outcomes. To...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Gibbon, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Ceccarelli, F., Londei, F., Arena, G. et al. 2025. Home-Cage Training for Non-Human Primates: An Opportunity to Reduce Stress and Study Natural Behavior in Neurophysiology Experiments. Animals 15(9), 1340.

A systematic review of the effects of musical enrichment on captive mammals (2025)

Forty two studies examining physiological, behavioural and cognitive mammalian responses to music were identified, with 38.1% of those studies focusing on primates. The studies identified included 23 mammalian species across six animal orders (Artiodactyla, Carnivora, Perissodactyla, Primates, Proboscidea and Rodentia)....

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Cat, Chimpanzee, Chinchilla, Dog, Gerbil, Gibbon, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Mole Rat, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Other Rodent, Owl Monkey, Rat, Rodent, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Alkalaj, M. 2025. A systematic review of the effects of musical enrichment on captive mammals. Canopy 25(2).

Update on current hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptive options in non-human primates

Reproductive success in captive non-human primates (NHPs) has increased the demand for safe, effective, and reversible population control methods. This review provides an overview of the current literature on hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptives as reproductive control methods in NHPs. Where...

Year Published: 2024Topics: ReproductionAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Nederlof, R. A., Bruins-van Sonsbeek, L. G. R., Stumpel, J. B. G. et al. 2024. Update on current hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptive options in non-human primates. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 5(4), 606–629.

Evaluating enrichment use in group-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): A machine learning approach

Environmental enrichment programmes are widely used to improve welfare of captive and laboratory animals, especially non-human primates. Monitoring enrichment use over time is crucial, as animals may habituate and reduce their interaction with it. In this study we aimed to...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Ciminelli, G., Witham, C., Bateson, M. 2024. Evaluating enrichment use in group-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): A machine learning approach. Animal Welfare 33, e59.

Teeth baring as a model to understand complex facial signals in a tolerant macaque species

Facial communication regulates many aspects of social life in human and nonhuman primates. Empirically identifying distinct facial expressions and their underlying functions can help illuminate the evolution of species' communicative complexity. We focused on bared-teeth faces (BTFs), a highly versatile...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Fantoni, F., Maglieri, V., Giusti, N. et al. 2025. Teeth baring as a model to understand complex facial signals in a tolerant macaque species. American Journal of Primatology 87(1), e23697.

Pairing laboratory-housed adult male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): Success rates in relation to behavioral response and duration of visual contact

While the benefits of pair housing have been well documented, less is known about increasing success in adult male macaque pair introductions. In this retrospective study, 95 unfamiliar adult male macaque (Macaca mulatta) pairs were examined to determine whether duration...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Logan, L. E., Sayers, K. 2024. Pairing laboratory-housed adult male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): Success rates in relation to behavioral response and duration of visual contact. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 277, 106340.

No effect of infant nursery rearing on laboratory rhesus monkey dams’ social behavior or long-term cortisol profiles

While the behavioral and physiological impacts of nursery rearing in laboratory-housed infant monkeys have been well characterized, to date no studies have examined the impact on nonhuman primate dams of their infants being removed for rearing in the nursery. Despite...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Dettmer, A. M., Slonecker, E. M., Clouse, S. et al. 2024. No effect of infant nursery rearing on laboratory rhesus monkey dams' social behavior or long-term cortisol profiles. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 280, 106428.

Deep learning for face detection and pain assessment in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata)

Facial expressions have increasingly been used to assess emotional states in mammals. The recognition of pain in research animals is essential for their well-being and leads to more reliable research outcomes. Automating this process could contribute to early pain diagnosis...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Gris, V. N., Crespo, T. R., Kaneko, A. et al. 2024. Deep learning for face detection and pain assessment in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). JAALAS 63(4), 403–411.

The use of guanfacine to mediate anxiety-related reactivity and reduce associated agonistic behavior in two pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina)

Guanfacine, an α2-adrenoceptor agonist, has been used to successfully treat self-injurious behavior in nonhuman primates, including macaques (Macaca mulatta) and baboons (Papio anubis). It does so by facilitating a correction to the dopaminergic system that mediates a reduction in impulsivity...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Hopper, L. M., Allen, J. V., Huynh, V. et al. 2024. The use of guanfacine to mediate anxiety-related reactivity and reduce associated agonistic behavior in two pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina). Comparative Medicine 74(3), 186–194.