Masturbation in captive <i>Hylobates</i> (gibbons)

Mootnick, Alan R.; Baker, Elaine

doi:10.1002/zoo.1430130408

Cited by 20 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Such behaviors are unlikely to respond to environmental change and may result in incompetent sexual, social, or parental behavior in adulthood [Suomi, 1982]. Male gibbons that are raised by humans tend to exhibit neurotic behaviors [Kawakami and Kollias, 1984;Maxwell, 1984;Mootnick and Baker, 1994;Mootnick and Nadler, 1997], and the male in the present study was no exception. Exhibiting both thumb-sucking and masturbation directed toward humans, the LPZ male's aberrant behavior was consistent with behavior reported for other hand-reared gibbons.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

“…Exhibiting both thumb-sucking and masturbation directed toward humans, the LPZ male's aberrant behavior was consistent with behavior reported for other hand-reared gibbons. A study by Mootnick and Baker [1994] suggested that masturbation in captive adult male and female gibbons may be linked to early social experience, including social isolation from conspecifics during their youth. The authors suggested that gibbons experiencing such isolation may direct masturbation toward humans and be correspondingly less interested in conspecific sexual partners.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Hand rearing presents many problems for this species, particularly for males. Previous studies have shown that hand-reared male gibbons are prone to be poor breeders [Maxwell, 1984;Mootnick and Nadler, 1997] and they tend to exhibit stereotypic neurotic behaviors, including self-mutilation, self-hugging, thumb-sucking, and masturbation [Maxwell, 1984;Mootnick and Baker, 1994;Mootnick and Nadler, 1997]. Two unpublished studies and casual keeper observations at LPZ revealed that the male in the current study was excessively attentive toward humans and spent a great deal more time interacting with humans compared to the female (T. Loth, unpublished data; A. Sangster, unpublished data).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Longitudinal study of delayed reproductive success in a pair of white‐cheeked gibbons (Hylobates leucogenys)

et al. 2002

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Concern over a lack of breeding success in a pair of white-cheeked gibbons (Hylobates leucogenys) prompted a four-part study of gibbon behavior and physiology at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Data were collected to determine the female intermenstrual interval (IMI) and identify periods of peak receptivity. Subsequent behavioral data were gathered during both female menses and estrous periods to formulate a behavioral profile for each gibbon. The female experienced a speciestypical IMI of 21.6 days and exhibited heightened levels of behavioral receptivity toward the male during estrus. The male exhibited high levels of human-directed behavior throughout the day. Closing the exhibit to visitors did not result in higher levels of social proximity or prosocial behavior between the pair, although it did eliminate the male's human-directed behavior during the experimental condition only. The female exhibited higher levels of social grooming, solicitation of the male, and proximity to the male when the pair was locked indoors. Based on those findings, the pair was moved to an exclusively indoor exhibit. The female's visibility to the public decreased substantially in the alternate exhibit, but there were no other significant behavioral changes. Nearly one year after the exhibit change, the female gibbon was confirmed to be pregnant. Although the results of this study cannot be used to infer causal conditions that resulted in the pregnancy, they do support the notion that systematic documentation of animal behavior and physiology may be used as a tool for monitoring reproductive behavior and informing management decisions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Longitudinal study of delayed reproductive success in a pair of white‐cheeked gibbons (Hylobates leucogenys)

et al. 2002

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“…Observations of captive gibbons masturbating are few, with the notable exception of Mootnick and Baker (1994). These authors suggest that isolation from conspecifics during the early years of life may result in masturbation being directed towards humans, which may correlate with a tendency to be uninterested in Hylobates sexual partners.…”

Section: Human-directed Masturbationmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…Mootnick and Baker (1994) also suggest that gibbons with backgrounds of early conspecific isolation may be less suitable for captive breeding programmes. The Kalaweit gibbons have yet to produce any offspring, so more data are needed to further test this hypothesis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Unusual behaviour of captive-raised gibbons: implications for welfare

Cheyne

2006

Primates

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Unusual behaviours not normally seen in the wild were studied in 52 captive agile (Hylobates agilis albibarbis) and 23 Müllers gibbons (H. muelleri spp) at three locations within the Kalaweit Gibbon Rehabilitation Project. Unusual behaviours included stereotypic behaviour (SB), human-directed masturbation and posterior presenting. These data were collected over 18 months as part of an ongoing study into behavioural adaptation of gibbons in a rehabilitation programme. Data were also collected on the unusual behaviours observed, for example, SB, human-directed masturbation and posterior presenting. I suggest causes of the abnormal behaviours and propose solutions to reduce their incidence in order to improve the gibbon's progress in rehabilitation. From this study I conclude that most gibbons can be rehabilitated from the point of view of acquiring and maintaining a normal behavioural repertoire once in suitable housing. Encouraging the gibbons to reduce and/or stop these unusual behaviours is key to the welfare of the gibbons while in the rehabilitation programme and to successful release into a forest habitat.

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Sexual behavior of maternally separated gibbons (Hylobates)

Mootnick¹,

Nadler

1997

Dev. Psychobiol.

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The effect of early maternal separation on the sexual behavior of captive gibbons was investigated because (a) maternal separation compromises sexual behavior of some nonhuman primates and (b) adequate sexual behavior is essential to species propagation. Most of the maternally separated gibbons (24/31) were sexually proficient. Sexual behavior overall did not differ significantly in relation to species, sex, origin (wild‐ vs. captive‐born), or type of rearing facility (home vs. zoo). Sexual proficiency was not related to the age at separation from the mother, but it was associated with introduction within 19 months of age to a conspecific of less than 3 years of age and an absolute age difference of less than 2 years. Sexual proficiency was associated with rearing and adult housing in relatively large enclosures. Gibbons that were isolated from conspecifics between 6 months and 2 years of age were strongly attached to humans, but this did not prevent sexual proficiency. A greater proportion of males than females were adversely affected sexually by prolonged early social isolation. Inadequate sexual behavior was associated with fearfulness of conspecifics, which probably interfered with compatible social relationships, including duetting. Inadequate sexual behavior was but one aspect of a more general behavioral deficiency resulting from inadequate early socialization. Early maternal separation in gibbons is compatible with species‐typical sexual behavior under the conditions described above. It is not necessary for gibbons to learn sexual and parental behavior by observing experienced adult conspecifics. ©1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 31: 149–161, 1997

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Masturbation in captive Hylobates (gibbons)

Cited by 20 publications

References 16 publications

Longitudinal study of delayed reproductive success in a pair of white‐cheeked gibbons (Hylobates leucogenys)

Longitudinal study of delayed reproductive success in a pair of white‐cheeked gibbons (Hylobates leucogenys)

Unusual behaviour of captive-raised gibbons: implications for welfare

Sexual behavior of maternally separated gibbons (Hylobates)

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