Publications

Increasing captive chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) engagement with multi-step cognitive enrichment

Environmental enrichment enhances the psychological well‐being of animals and is therefore a vital part of the husbandry of captive animals. Since chimpanzees are a cognitively complex species, they may especially benefit from enrichment programs that focus on cognitive engagement. We...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Chimpanzee, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Cornelius, N., Enstam‐Jaffe, K. Minier, D. et al., 2018. Increasing captive chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) engagement with multi-step cognitive enrichment. American Journal of Primatology 80(S1), 19 (40th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #23).

Increases in feeding and destructible enrichment distribution in caged rhesus macaques (Macaques mulatta) provide some behavioral benefits

It is important to evaluate the effectiveness of environmental enrichment in meeting behavioral goals (e.g., decreasing abnormal behavior) and in making the best use of limited facility resources (e.g., money, personnel time). One/zero behavioral data on 12 abnormal behaviors were...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Perlman, J. E., Martin, A. L., Bloomsmith, M. A., 2018. Increases in feeding and destructible enrichment distribution in caged rhesus macaques (Macaques mulatta) provide some behavioral benefits. American Journal of Primatology 80(S1), 19 (40th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #24).

Enhanced physical environment in single-housed macaques: A long-term usage profile of cage extensions

Social housing is always preferred in the research environment; however, single housing is sometimes necessitated by scientific objectives or social incompatibility. In these cases, other environmental enhancements are developed to provide indirect social interactions. We developed a novel cage extension...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Woelffer, S., Ace, L., Sullivan, J. et al., 2018. Enhanced physical environment in single-housed macaques: A long-term usage profile of cage extensions. American Journal of Primatology 80(S1), 19-20 (40th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #25).

Providing feeding enrichment by hand mitigates anxiety among laboratory-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Some husbandry procedures may be perceived as aversive by cage‐housed rhesus macaques. We assessed whether providing feeding enrichment by hand as opposed to placing it on a caging surface decreases anxiety responses to daily husbandry activities. Eleven adult males and...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Human-Animal Interaction, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Pomerantz, O., Nyandwi, S., Baker, K., 2018. Providing feeding enrichment by hand mitigates anxiety among laboratory-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). American Journal of Primatology 80(S1), 20 (40th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #26).

A successful strategy for social housing adult male cynomolgus macaques in triads

At Charles River, we are committed to ensuring all animals have the highest level of care and welfare. For juvenile, subadult and adult female cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis), we have a near 100% success rate for social housing. Sexually mature...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Moomaw, H., Abney, D., Duffy, A. et al. 2018. A successful strategy for social housing adult male cynomolgus macaques in triads. American Journal of Primatology 80(S1), 31-32 (40th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #62).

The relationship between self-directed anxiety behaviors and cortisol in socially housed capuchin monkeys (Cebus [Sapajus] apella)

Non‐human primates are excellent models for the study of human social anxiety. Both humans and non‐human primates form complex relationships with others, and exhibit signs of distress when those relationships become unstable. Self‐directed behaviors, such as self‐scratching, have traditionally been...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Capuchin, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Tomeo, O. B., Sosnowski, M. J., Benitez, M. E. et al. 2018. The relationship between self-directed anxiety behaviors and cortisol in socially housed capuchin monkeys (Cebus [Sapajus] apella). American Journal of Primatology 80(S1), 32 (40th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #64).

Behavioral predictors of successful pairing of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) at the visual contact phase of social introduction

Identification of behaviors early in the process of rhesus macaque social introductions that might predict social housing success would allow primate managers to best allocate resources and minimize animal stress by aborting introductions unlikely to lead to successful pairings. We...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Truelove, M. A., Martin, A. L., Perlman, J. E. et al. 2018. Behavioral predictors of successful pairing of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) at the visual contact phase of social introduction. American Journal of Primatology 80(S1), 32 (40th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #65).

Management of weight and body condition for captive adult and aging chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

With the goal of finding a practical way to improve and/or maintain the body condition of overweight chimpanzees to promote health and welfare, several feeding protocols' effects on chimpanzee body condition scores (BCS) were evaluated. BCS were assessed at the...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Chimpanzee, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Clay, A. W., Crane, M., Merino, R. et al. 2018. Management of weight and body condition for captive adult and aging chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). American Journal of Primatology 80(S1), 33 (40th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #66).

Dams’ social behaviour and long-term cortisol profiles in response to their infants being nursery-reared

The influence of early rearing experiences on infants' social and neuroendocrine development is well characterized. However, little is known about the effects of nursery rearing (NR) on the infants' mothers. Such information is important in welfare considerations. In a two‐part...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Dettmer, A. M., Slonecker, E., Suomi, S. J. et al. 2018. Dams' social behaviour and long-term cortisol profiles in response to their infants being nursery-reared. American Journal of Primatology 80(S1), 33 (40th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #67).

Validating WelfareTrak® as a tool to improve the welfare of individual chimpanzees

WelfareTrak® is a web application that gives animal care specialists the opportunity to complete weekly species‐specific surveys to monitor positive and negative indicators of welfare for individual animals. WelfareTrak® generates reports and “flags” potential shifts in welfare status. The goal...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Chimpanzee, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Hall, K., Bryant, J., Whitham, J. et al. 2018. Validating WelfareTrak® as a tool to improve the welfare of individual chimpanzees. American Journal of Primatology 80(S1), 33 (40th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #68).