Effects of environmental enrichment on care-giving and infant development in marmosets (2001)

Ventura, R., Buchanan, H. M., Morris, K.

Abstract

Twin infants from eight family groups were observed for the first 10 weeks of life. Non-enriched enclosures contained a nest box and branches. Enriched enclosures also had an artificial gum tree to stimulate the marmosets natural exudate gouging behaviour, wooden shelves to provide extra substrates, and a hanging screen to divide the enclosure visually and for the animals to swing from. In addition, a different novel object was placed in the enriched enclosure each week. Care-giving behaviour was not significantly different between the two conditions. However, infants in enriched enclosures performed several behaviours (e.g. scent-marking and self-grooming) significantly earlier than in the non-enriched groups, and they also played, explored and chewed wood significantly more.