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Risks associated with environmental enrichment: intestinal obstruction caused by foraging substrate
J V Seier1, M A Dhansay, A Davids
1Primate Unit, Diabetes Research Group/MRC, PO Box 19070, Tygerberg 7505, Cape Town, South Africa. jurgen.seier@mrc.ac.za
Journal of Medical Primatology
|April 30, 2005
Summary
Enrichment substrates like straw can pose risks, as seen when a vervet monkey developed a fatal intestinal blockage. While rare, this case highlights the need for careful safety evaluations of environmental enrichment for captive primates.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary medicine
- Primate welfare
- Animal husbandry
Background:
- Environmental complexity is crucial for captive animal welfare.
- Novel enrichment techniques are frequently introduced.
- Foraging substrates are common enrichment tools in primate housing.
Observation:
- A juvenile male vervet monkey presented with a phytobezoar of straw.
- The straw caused a sigmoid colon obstruction, leading to necrosis.
- The monkey required euthanasia due to the severe intestinal damage.
Findings:
- This was an isolated incident among 120 vervet monkeys housed on straw for over 5 years.
- The foraging substrate was identified as the cause of the phytobezoar.
- No other individuals experienced adverse effects from the straw substrate.
Implications:
- While generally safe, foraging substrates require careful monitoring for potential health risks.
- Risk assessment is essential when implementing novel environmental enrichment strategies.
- This case underscores the importance of vigilance in primate care to prevent rare but severe complications.
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