Behavioral responses of unrelated adult male rhesus monkeys familiarized and paired for the purpose of environmental enrichment (1989)

Reinhardt, V.

Abstract

Potential companions were first given the opportunity to establish clear-cut rank relationships during a 5-day period of noncontact familiarization. Only then were they paired in a different double cage. Rank relationships were confirmed within the first 6 minutes after pairing without the occurrence of any biting and fighting. A total of four physical aggressions (slapping) were observed in all five dyads during 5 hours of observations on the first 5 days after pairing. It stands to reason that the risk of injury, intrinsically associated with pairing, can be minimized if only those dyads are selected whose partners show unequivocal signs of an established rank relationship during a period of noncontact familiarization.