Effectiveness of enrichment devices during brief periods of social restriction in singly housed baboons (2002)

Hienz, R. D., Jones, A., Pyle, D. A. et al.

Abstract

Data were collected on the animals' (three singly caged adult males) daily biscuit intake and activity levels as well as log activity prior to, during, and following social restriction (housed in separate room in which no other animals are present), and also in the absence and presence of a log (hand-cut cherry hardwood logs; 9 cm diameter x 35 cm long). ... All three baboons in the current study showed a marked decrease in activity during the brief periods of social restriction when the log enrichment devices were not available. However, once these devices were provided, general activity increased again, with two of the three baboons increasing their activity levels to near-normal. On the other hand, when the enrichment device movements were examined, the baboons appeared ?less interested? in the logs during the restricted condition (i.e., moved the logs less) than during the baseline period. ... These findings present further support for the importance of enrichment devices for laboratory primates, showing that in the presence of such devices, the behavior of the animal is positively influenced. While the devices themselves were not manipulated greatly in this study, their presence affected the activity of the baboons.