Onset of aggressive toy biting by a laboratory baboon coincides with cessation of self-injurious behavior (2002)

Crockett C. M., Gough, G. M.

Abstract

After age 7.1 years, SIB became more frequent, usually directed at one knee. Neither daily Prozac or periods of social contact [grooming-contact bars] eliminated SIB. The baboon abruptly ceased SIB at age 12.5 years, coinciding with the onset of aggressive biting of a Kong toy (familiar to her for years) during procedures occurring in the animal's room... Abnormal behavior (primarily pacing) averaged 45% of the time during procedures (beginning when the researcher first entered the animal room to sedate another animal and ending the last time he left the room) versus ~4% during the 10 min before and after procedures or on no-procedure days. Aggressive Kong biting occurred when the subject saw a sedated baboon being carried out of the room but never at the time of injection. We hypothesize that the baboon, now 14.4 years old, learned to redirect tension-related aggression from her knee toward the Kong toy.