Free-environment rooms as alternative housing for squirrel monkeys (1989)

King, J. E. , Norwood, V. R.

Abstract

Individual and gang cages were removed from two conventional colony rooms and the monkeys [11 females and 5 males] were simply released into the rooms. ... Immediately following the establishment of these two free-environment rooms, a few monkeys incurred sprains and broken teeth, probably resulting from falls attributed to their rustiness in leaping and climbing. ... Two deaths resulted from attacks by other monkeys. ... It is clearly important to adjust the sex and age composition of group-housed monkeys to avoid destructive aggression. Photographic demonstration of inadequate lighting conditions in double-tier isolation cages.