Social Housing & Companionship

Blunting/cutting canines of adult male monkeys: A discussion by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum

"When you keep adult Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) males, adult Cynomolgus (Macaca fascicularis) males or adult Vervet males (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), in the same enclosure, is it advisable to have the canines of the males blunted or cut?" - question posed...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Coke, C., Skoumbourdis, E., Rodgers, J. C. et al. 2018. Blunting/cutting canines of adult male monkeys: A discussion by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Animal Technology & Welfare 17(2), 105-107.

Social housing and social isolation: Impact on stress indices and energy balance in male and female Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

Although Syrian hamsters are thought to be naturally solitary, recent evidence from our laboratory demonstrates that hamsters may actually prefer social contact. Hamsters increase their preference for a location associated with an agonistic encounter regardless of whether they have “won”...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Ross, A. P., Norvelle, A., Choi, D. C. et al. 2017. Social housing and social isolation: Impact on stress indices and energy balance in male and female Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Physiology & Behavior 177, 264-269.

The psychobiology of social pain: Evidence for a neurocognitive overlap with physical pain and welfare implications for social animals with special attention to the domestic dog (Canis familiaris)

Social pain is the negative affect signaling threat or harm to social relationships. Loneliness is perceived social isolation and can be found across phylogeny. Evidence from diverse fields demonstrates an overlap of social and physical pain. Social pain can elicit...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: All/General, Dog

Citation: McMillan, F. D. 2016. The psychobiology of social pain: Evidence for a neurocognitive overlap with physical pain and welfare implications for social animals with special attention to the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). Physiology & Behavior 167, 154-171.

Patterns of wounding in hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) in North American zoos

In North American zoos, hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) have traditionally been housed as single one‐male units (single male groups). In recent years, efforts have been made to house hamadryas in groups composed of multiple one‐male units (multi‐male groups) to more...

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

Citation: Wiley, J. N., Leeds, A., Carpenter, K. D. et al. 2018. Patterns of wounding in hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) in North American zoos. Zoo Biology 37(2), 74–79.

Do “birds of a feather flock together” or do “opposites attract”? Behavioral responses and temperament predict success in pairings of rhesus monkeys in a laboratory setting

The growing recognition that social needs of primates in captivity must be addressed can present challenges to staff at primate facilities charged with implementing pair‐housing solutions for animals. Unfortunately, there are few published papers that identify individual characteristics that might...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Capitanio, J. P., Blozis, S. A., Snarr, J. et al. 2017. Do “birds of a feather flock together” or do “opposites attract”? Behavioral responses and temperament predict success in pairings of rhesus monkeys in a laboratory setting. American Journal of Primatology 79(1), e22464.

Pair housing of vervets/African green monkeys for biomedical research

Vervets, also known as African green monkeys, are a nonhuman primate species widely used in biomedical research. However, there are currently few references available describing techniques and rates of success for pair‐housing this species. We present data from four cohorts...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Jorgensen, M. J., Lambert, K. R., Breaux, S. D. et al. 2017. Pair housing of vervets/African green monkeys for biomedical research. American Journal of Primatology 79(1), e22501.

Socialization of adult owl monkeys (Aotus sp

Social housing has often been recommended as one‐way to address the psychological well‐being of captive non‐human primates. Published reports have examined methods to socialize compatible animals by forming pairs or groups. Successful socialization rates vary depending on the species, gender,...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey

Citation: Williams, L. E., Coke, C. S., Weed, J. L. 2017. Socialization of adult owl monkeys (Aotus sp.) in captivity. American Journal of Primatology 79(1), e22521.

Socialization in pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina)

In response to new emphasis by regulatory agencies regarding socialization, behavioral management programs are allocating greater resources to maximize socialization opportunities for laboratory primates. Information regarding predictors of compatibility and risk of injury for all laboratory‐housed species of macaques are...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Worlein, J. M.,Kroeker, R., Lee, G. H. et al. 2017. Socialization in pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina). American Journal of Primatology 79(1), e22556.

Pair housing of macaques: A review of partner selection, introduction techniques, monitoring for compatibility, and methods for long-term maintenance of pairs

Pair housing of macaques has become a widely implemented compromise between meeting the social needs of the monkeys and allowing for their use in biomedical research. While beneficial to the animals, pair housing can provide challenges for those caring for...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Truelove, M. A., Martin, A. L., Perlman, J. E. et al. 2017. Pair housing of macaques: A review of partner selection, introduction techniques, monitoring for compatibility, and methods for long-term maintenance of pairs. American Journal of Primatology 79(1), e22485.

Laboratory rhesus macaque social housing and social changes: Implications for research

Macaque species, specifically rhesus (Macaca mulatta), are the most common nonhuman primates (NHPs) used in biomedical research due to their suitability as a model of high priority diseases (e.g., HIV, obesity, cognitive aging), cost effective breeding and housing compared to...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Hannibal, D. L., Bliss-Moreau, E., Vandeleest, J. et al. 2017. Laboratory rhesus macaque social housing and social changes: Implications for research. American Journal of Primatology 79(1), e22528.