Psychological well-being of captive nonhuman primates (1998)

Crockett, C. M.

Abstract

Merely increasing cage size has not been associated with meaningful improvements in psychological well-being among singly housed macaques. Environmental change, such as being moved into a new room, disturbs monkeys, as demonstrated by appetite suppression, disruption of the normal activity cycle, and mildly elevated stress hormones, and thus animals should not be moved without good reason. ... Perches and foraging devices appear to be used most consistently. ... Adult female long-tailed macaques benefit from social enrichment through pairing with other females. Adult males also have social needs, although they are more likely to express them toward females. Many males ignore or behave aggressively toward other males, although some male pairs are highly compatible. Housing longtailed macaque males in paired caging with widely spaced grooming-contact bars prevents aggressive pursuits and increases the success rate of male pairing.