Evaluation of environmental and intrinsic factors that contribute to stereotypic behavior in captive rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta )

Abstract

Full body repetitive behaviors, known as motor stereotypic behaviors (MSBs), are one of the most commonly seen abnormal behaviors in captive non-human primates, and are frequently used as a behavioral measure of well-being. The main goal of this paper was to examine the role of environmental factors (i.e., foraging enrichment and socialization) and intrinsic factors (i.e., temperament and origin) in the development of MSB in rhesus macaques living in cages. MSB was assessed during short annual observations in which a trained observer recorded a monkey’s behavior for 5 min, followed by a 3-min novel object test. Data were collected over 11 years, totaling 9805 observations. We compared MSB for animals with and without foraging enrichment, and across three socialization conditions: full contact pairing, protected contact socialization (partners physically separated by widely spaced bars), and single housing. In addition, we evaluated whether individual differences in response to a novel object and ancestral origin (i.e., China vs. India), predicted MSB expression during the annual observations. Data were analyzed using generalized mixed effects modeling, with the best fitting models chosen using Akaike Information Criterion. Subjects were at lowest risk for MSB when a foraging device was present (p < 0.05), and when in full contact social housing (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in MSB between subjects that were single housed and subjects housed in protected contact pairs. In addition, subjects that never touched the novel object were significantly less likely to exhibit MSB than those that touched the object immediately (p < 0.001) or within 3 min (p < 0.001). Finally, monkeys with some degree of Chinese ancestry were significantly more likely to display MSB than Indian-origin monkeys (p < 0.05). These results add to the growing body of literature on factors that can contribute to the development of MSB.

Physiological, Behavioral, and Scientific Impact of Different Fluid Control Protocols in the Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta)

“…While some behavioral changes may be indicative of reduced welfare during the two fluid control protocols, for example, increased stereotypic pacing in one animal (Gottlieb et al, 2015), others suggest the opposite: that the welfare of the monkeys was compromised more during the control period. Body shaking, self-grooming, and yawning are considered to be indicative of anxiety in macaques (Ninan et al 1982; Deputte 1994; Schino et al 1996; Major et al, 2009), making it surprising that these behaviors were more prevalent during the free access period compared with during either fluid control protocol.…”

The correlation between alopecia and temperament in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) at four primate facilities

“…Even the stability and cultural attitude of the care staff towards the animals can influence behavior [Coleman, ]. Finally, genetic differences or country of origin (i.e., China vs. India) could also cause behavioral discrepancies [e.g., Gottlieb et al, ]. These factors should be examined further to determine the degree to which they affect behavioral responses to the Human Intruder test, as well as other behavioral tests.…”

Increased produce enrichment reduces trauma in socially‐housed captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

“…Social housing offers the most important form of enrichment for captive primates (Hannibal, Bliss‐Moreau, Vandeleest, McCowan, & Capitanio, ; Lutz & Novak, ), resulting in social buffering during stressful situations (Gilbert & Baker, ; Hennessy, Chun, & Capitanio, ) and lowered rates of stereotypical and abnormal behaviors (Baker et al, ; Gottlieb, Maier, & Coleman, ). Accordingly, primates devoid of social companions can exhibit depression (Perera et al, ; Shively & Willard, ).…”