Rotational use of a recreational cage for the environmental enrichment of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) (1996)

Tustin, G. W., Williams, L. E., Brady, A. G.

Abstract

The study provides evidence that the problem of boredom and declining use of enrichment devices usually seen with nonhuman primates can be addressed by rotating the animals through a recreation cage larger than the standard individual cage. The rotational use of the recreation cage resulted in increased use of enrichment devices [including foraging, and a decrease in stereotypical responses]. Keeping the recreational cage in the same room with the home cages allowed the animals to watch each other there. The recreational cage offers a means of providing environmental enrichment to nonhuman primates that cannot be socially housed. .. The thighs of the subjects were almost bald before the introduction of the recreation cage, due to pulling their own hair. After the introduction, hair returned to these areas.