A novel approach to group-housing male cynomolgus macaques in a pharmaceutical environment (2000)

Hartner, M. K., Hall J., Penderghest, J. et al.

Abstract

Twenty percent of our primates are maintained in a single-housed environment. Of those single-housed animals, 40% exhibited moderate to marked degrees of self-directed activity; i. e., hairpulling. By contrast, none of the pair or group-housed animals exhibited these behaviors. Our goal was to provide increased socialization in a group of juvenile cynomolgus male macaques. Through a stepwise process, we transitioned these animals from a single cage environment to pair housing, and finally into a large enrichment unit, where they have been successfully maintained for over one year. We firmly believe that these primates are now more receptive to handling and training, and will therefore be better animal models, as noted by a marked decrease in vocalization and self-directed behavior during pole/collar capture and chair restraint procedures.