Cage toys reduce abnormal behavior in individually housed pigtail macaques

Area of Science:

• Primate behavior and welfare
• Animal enrichment strategies
• Nonhuman primate behavioral interventions

Background:

• Individually housed nonhuman primates can exhibit abnormal behaviors.
• Behavioral intervention programs aim to treat such behaviors.
• Environmental enrichment is crucial for captive animals, especially those housed alone.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of providing multiple manipulable cage toys as environmental enrichment.
• To reduce abnormal behavior in individually housed pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina).
• To evaluate enrichment use and its impact on behavior.

Main Methods:

• Five individually housed pigtail macaques were observed before and after the introduction of novel cage toys.
• Observations recorded abnormal behavior, cage-directed behavior, and enrichment use.
• Toys were presented both loose and attached to the cage exterior.

Main Results:

• A significant decrease in abnormal and cage-directed behaviors was observed after toy introduction.
• Enrichment use significantly increased, with Kong Toys being favored.
• Some toys were quickly destroyed, and individual differences in response were noted.

Conclusions:

• Multiple manipulable toys are an effective environmental enrichment strategy for pigtail macaques.
• This enrichment can successfully reduce abnormal behavior in individually housed primates.
• Toy-based enrichment is a valuable component of welfare programs for nonhuman primates unable to be socially housed.