Refinements to captive chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) care: a selfmedication paradigm

Abstract

In an effort to enhance welfare, behavioural management continually refines methods of non-human primate (NHP) care. Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are one of the most cognitively complex captive NHPs and they have been observed to self-medicate in the wild. The population of captive chimpanzees in the US is aged (due to a breeding moratorium instituted in 1998) and will progressively require more medical care as they get older. To functionally simulate natural self-medication behaviour, provide chimpanzees with the opportunity to voluntarily participate in their own healthcare, and open new avenues of communication between caregivers and chimpanzees, we used a medication choice paradigm that allowed chimpanzees to choose their daily arthritis medication. We provided four arthritic, mobility-impaired chimpanzees with meloxicam or ibuprofen in blue or green Gatorade® to establish associations between the coloured drinks and the effects of the medications. We subsequently gave each chimpanzee a choice between the two medications. Behaviour was recorded using 15-min focal animal observations. Mobility was assessed using interactive mobility tests and a caregiver-rating system. One chimpanzee showed a medication preference (ibuprofen over meloxicam). The chimpanzees exhibited no significant behavioural or mobility differences over time, suggesting that ibuprofen and meloxicam may not differ significantly in their ability to alleviate arthritic symptoms. Whether or not the chimpanzees show a medication preference, the opportunity to make meaningful choices and the functional simulation of a complex behaviour, self-medication, is present when using this medication choice technique. Furthermore, the paradigm itself could have potential applications for additional medication options and treatment regimens.

The implementation and initial evaluation of a physical therapy program for captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

“…At NCCC, we have implemented several personalized care routines aimed at refining captive care (Bridges, Mocarski, Reamer, Lambeth, & Schapiro, 2013;Bridges et al, 2015Bridges et al, , 2016Haller et al, 2012;Lambeth et al, 2013;Magden et al, 2013Magden et al, , 2016Reamer et al, 2017;Neal Webb et al, 2018b). This PT program, using PRT, represents an additional important refinement that can be applied to a variety of NHP species experiencing a variety of physical conditions, including arthritis, paresis, lameness, and injury.…”

“…We chose to include all chimpanzees with mobility issues in the PT program to maximize sample size, and, more important, avoid withholding a potentially beneficial treatment from mobility-impaired animals (Neal Webb et al, 2018b). The finding that control chimpanzees showed no major changes in ratings of ease of movement and physical health suggest that the exercises themselves seem to be affecting these ratings in PT chimpanzees (with the caveat that we were unable to use blind raters).…”

“…Therefore, PT chimpanzees exhibited mobility impairments, moderate to high levels of slow movement, moderate to severe crepitation, veterinarian-diagnosed arthritis and prescription of anti-inflammatory drugs, and/or limited movement due to previous injury or stroke. All chimpanzees with mobility impairments were included as subjects in the PT program to maximize sample size and so as not to withhold a potentially beneficial refinement from mobility-impaired animals (Neal Webb, Hau, & Schapiro, 2018b). Control chimpanzees also experienced slight mobility issues due to their age (even the single 30-year-old subject: CEC), including slight crepitation (as reported by veterinarians during physical exams within the past 2 years) and some slow movement.…”

“…Behavioral and veterinary management programs are progressively focusing on techniques and strategies that aim to improve geriatric chimpanzee care. Personalized care routines that include acupuncture, laser therapy, and medication choice paradigms have resulted in chimpanzees voluntarily participating in their own health care, resulting in increased mobility and choice within the captive environment (Haller, Magden, Lambeth, & Schapiro, 2012;Lambeth, Schapiro, Bernacky, & Wilkerson, 2013;Magden, 2017;Magden et al, 2013;Neal Webb et al, 2018b). Evaluations of aspects of the physical and social environments of geriatric animals have led to structural enhancements to the physical environment and increased knowledge of the ways that social group composition affects geriatric chimpanzee behavior (Bridges et al, 2015;Bridges, Powers, Lambeth, & Schapiro, 2016;Neal Webb et al, 2019).…”

Relationships between captive chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) welfare and voluntary participation in behavioural studies

“…Although there is a developing consensus that voluntary participation in behavioural studies provides various scientific and welfare benefits to non-human primates (NHPs), there is limited empirical data regarding the relationships between participation in behavioural studies and NHP welfare (Clark, 2011;Clark and Smith, 2013;Yamanashi & Hayashi, 2011;Reamer, Haller, Lambeth, & Schapiro, 2017;Hopkins & Latzman 2017;Hopper et al, 2016;Ross, 2010;Neal Webb, Hau, & Schapiro, 2018b). Beyond the benefit of increased understanding of NHP behaviour, sociality, and cognition, voluntary participation in behavioural studies has the potential to provide NHPs with enrichment opportunities, increased control over the captive environment, and functional simulations of natural conditions/behaviours, all of which should enhance welfare.…”