The effect of four enrichment conditions on abnormal behavior in seven singly caged baboons (Papio hamadryas anubis) (2003)

Bourgeois, S. R., Brent, L.

Abstract

Seven singly caged juvenile baboons were selected for behavioral intervention due to the severity of their abnormal behavior. Continuous all occurrence sampling method determined durations of abnormal and common behaviors throughout the ten-week study. Analysis of baseline behavior (fifteen 30-minute observations/subject) verified substantial durations of aberrant behaviors for each individual (mean = 9.80 min/observation [33%]). Four two-week conditions (ten 30-minute observations/subject/condition) tested the effectiveness of distinct enrichment techniques: Positive Reinforcement Training, Food Enrichment, Non-Food Enrichment, and Social Enrichment. .. Baseline levels of abnormal behavior were significantly reduced during each enrichment condition (overall F = 7.91, p < 0.001) with lowest levels of abnormal behavior occurring during social enrichment (mean = 0.69 min/observation).