Free‐ranging New World primates in zoos: cebids at Apenheul

Abstract

Apenheul Primate Park in the Netherlands is well known for its 40 year‐old tradition of keeping various primate species in semi‐natural conditions and free ranging among visitors. Most of the free‐ranging primates at Apenheul are cebids and they are the focus of this article. Factors to consider when mixing primate species in a free‐ranging exhibit, such as enclosure design, husbandry and management measures related to visitors, are presented. Those details are thought to be crucial for this form of keeping primates to succeed. The possibilities and challenges of keeping primates free ranging in the natural social setting are discussed. Mixing different animal species in one area can improve the visitor experience and can also be valuable enrichment for the animals themselves. The species combinations (primates mixed with other primate species as well as with non‐primate species) that Apenheul has had experience with since the opening in 1971 are listed in two tables. Advice is given on issues to consider if institutions want to mix primate species in a semi‐free‐ranging exhibit.

The effects of environmental and visitor variables on the behavior of free‐ranging ring‐tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) in captivity

“…Previous studies have reported that free‐ranging monkeys are adept at jumping on and obtaining food from baby strollers (Jens et al, ; Price et al, ). At Fota, the presence of a baby stroller was associated with a decrease in grooming, as well as a decrease in locomotion.…”

“…One area that visitor effect studies have almost entirely overlooked is that of free‐ranging zoo animals. Free‐ranging zoo animals have the opportunity to retreat from visitors, but can potentially be exposed to more intense interactions with the public,who might attempt to chase, touch or even feed free‐ranging animals (Jens, Mager‐Melicharek, & Rietkerk, ; Mun, Kabilan, Alagappasamy, & Guha, ), depending on the zoo management strategy. There is evidence that visitors prefer to see animals in more naturalistic settings and specifically free‐ranging animals, and that visitors may develop more positive attitudes to free‐ranging animals (Coe, ; Finlay, James, & Maple, ; Hosey, ; Mun et al, ; Price, Ashmore, & McGivern, ), but there is only minimal research on how free‐ranging animals are affected by their environment and zoo visitors.…”

Managing free‐ranging callitrichids in zoos

“…Leontopithecus spp appear to be more attracted to people but only one group (DWP 3, Golden‐headed lion tamarins) has caused real problems, going so far as to jump into children's pushchairs and raid bags in search of food (see also Jens et al . , ).…”

Introduction: New World Primates

“…They bring to the Yearbook clear examples, perhaps just glimpses, of the extraordinary progress in our understanding of the diversity, phylogeny and evolution of the New World monkeys (Martin, ; Rylands et al ., ), and their functional sociobiology, indicating how this has influenced their management and husbandry in captivity (Anzenberger & Falk, ). Captive management of the New World primates has benefited from an understanding of their lives in the wild and, most significantly, has begun to overcome, through the remarkable, tireless, intelligent and thoughtful efforts of many (represented here by Barnes, ; Barnes & Cronin, ; Buchanan‐Smith, ; Jens et al ., ; Price et al ., ), the entirely utilitarian, industrial‐scale approach to breeding that was pre‐eminent from the 1950s to the 1980s (e.g. Schmidt, ).…”

“…In the second edition of Wild Mammals in Captivity , Devra Kleiman pointed out that ‘the past decade has […] seen an explosion in concern about animal welfare’ (Kleiman et al ., : p. xi). Techniques for measuring welfare, and those for environmental and social enrichment for captive mammals, are emphasized in that book, and addressed here in the articles reporting on free‐ranging callitrichids at the Durrell Wildlife Park and Zürich Zoo, Switzerland (Price et al ., ), and cebids at Apenheul Primate Park, the Netherlands (Jens et al ., ), and the article by Buchanan‐Smith (), who discusses techniques, successes and problems in the maintenance and exhibition of mixed groups of tamarins as well as those of squirrel monkeys and tufted capuchin monkeys. This surely must be the superlative social and environmental enrichment for these species.…”