Chapter 4.7. Windows (2007)

LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum]

Abstract

We expose our squirrel monkeys to natural daylight via big windows during the summer. This is supplemented with artificial light in late fall and early spring, when the days are short, and throughout the winter. Some of our squirrel monkeys will lie as close to the window as possible and let the sun rays dance on their belly .I've seen the same behavior in our marmosets. As soon as the sunlight hits the window, the animals stop what they are doing, run over to the window ledge, and start stretching out and basking in the sunrays. There is no doubt in my mind that exposure to natural light, especially sunlight, is highly appreciated by the animals. All our rhesus macaques have access to one-way glass exterior windows mounted high above ground level. I very often see the animals gather up, attentively gazing out of the windows towards the source of some noise, at caretakers, activities in the garden and birds. One would think that exposure to daylight and the natural diurnal rhythm couldnt be anything else but a good thing for these animals.