Stress in captive monkeys

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Captive Monkeys Suffering 'Zoo Stress'Wednesday, 18th April 2007, 07:20

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Captive monkeys suffer zoo stress, reveals new research.

 

Scientists studying rainforest mandrills, the world's largest species, found

visitors peering at them through the glass window caused them to snarl, pace

and behave abnormally.

 

But they soothed their anxiety levels by more than half simply by planting a

three feet wide barrier of tropical shrubs between their enclosures at

Chester Zoo and the viewing platforms.

 

And now Durham University researchers have picked up the prestigious

Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) Wild Animal Welfare Award

for their work.

 

Seven mandrills, an exotic African monkey facing extinction, are kept at the

110 acre zoo. The tropical shrubs consisted of a range of plant species

selected by horticulture and botany experts.

 

Once the plants are thickened out they will provide an attractive barrier

and give visitors a more naturalistic impression of how the animals would

live in dense forests in the wild.

 

In addition to the significant overall improvement in the animals' welfare

after the shrubs were planted, the researchers found stress related

behaviour specifically directed at the visitors, such as approaching the

glass, reduced by 54 per cent.

 

Instead, the type of behaviour monkeys would show in the wild, such as

climbing and eating, increased by 13 per cent. The study also showed a 16

per cent rise in sociable behaviour, such as playing and grooming each

other.

 

Anthropologist Dr Jan de Ruiter, who led the research, said: " We initially

found some levels of stress among the mandrills. Their behaviour showed

signs of anxiety and social tension. Visitors can further aggravate this

stress as some people interpret the mandrills' behaviour as amusing and

start mimicking them. "

 

Dr de Ruiter added: " As soon as the shrubs were positioned, we noticed an

immediate improvement in the welfare of the mandrills, who displayed

significantly less anti social behaviour.

 

" The botanical display also adds to the visitor experience as they gain a

more natural impression of the type of environment in which the mandrills

would be living in the wild in Africa. "

 

The research team says its work has potential for further application in the

care of monkeys, and other zoo animals.

 

Chester Zoo's research officer Dr Sonya Hill, who specialises in primate

behaviour and welfare and who supervised the project, said: " This study

shows that by measuring the behaviour of animals in their habitats, whether

they be in the wild or in a zoo, we can understand their needs and

preferences better.

 

" In this way, researchers can 'ask' the animals what they want. Zoos can

then provide enclosures that aim to meet these needs and maintain good

animal welfare.

 

" It is important to remember that life in the wild is not stress-free

either, with factors such as predation, competition for food, and disease or

injury, and as we learn more about each species we can understand what

behavioural strategies they use to cope with their environment. "

 

UFAW's chief executive and scientific director Dr James Kirkwood said: " This

project is a good example of a scientific study to reveal what is important

to the animals themselves - to help determine their own preferences about

their accommodation. "

 

The £1,000 cash prize given as part of the award will be used to carry out

more research into animal welfare at Chester Zoo, such as the effects of

swinging poles for the Bornean and Sumatran orang utans in the new Realm of

the Red Ape enclosure, or automated feeding devices for Asian elephants and

orang utans.

 

The way automated feeders are designed can make the animals forage for their

food as they would in the wild, vary the way food is presented to them and

removes the link between food and keepers.

 

The word mandrill means 'man ape' and they are recognised by their olive fur

and colourful face and rump amongst males. Their colours are more pronounced

with sexual excitement.

 

In their native habitat, they are hunted for food which has led which has

led to them being placed on the World Conservation Union Red List of

Threatened Species

 

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