Evaluation of an enrichment programme for a colony of long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in a rescue centre

Valeria Albanese,Giovanna Marliani,Pier Attilio Accorsi,Michela Kuan,Roberta Berardi

doi:10.1007/s10329-021-00908-8

Abstract

Long-tailed macaques are highly social primates that are commonly used in biomedical research as animal models. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different kinds of enrichment on the behaviour and faecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) level in a colony of ex-laboratory long-tailed macaques during a programme of rehabilitation. The research was carried out in three periods, divided into two sessions each. Every period was composed of one control session (SC) and one session characterised by one type of enrichment: feeding enrichment (FE), manipulative enrichment (ME), and the last session during which manipulative and feeding enrichment were provided every day but in a mixed way (MIX). The results showed that manipulative and mixed enrichments caused positive changes to the activity budget of the colony, with a decrease in abnormal behaviour rates and an increase in play compared with control sessions. The rate of affiliative behaviours and low rate of aggression were probably because the group was composed mostly of females and it was stable, with a well-defined hierarchy. The research underlines the importance of a well-studied enrichment programme for the welfare of captive animals, which should exploit species-specific motivations.

Highlights

Non-human primates are still widely used for experimental purposes in Italy (GU no. 28 of 02-02-2019), despite strong constraints on their use by national and international rules and evidence of important currents of ethical opposition to their use at the global level
In this research we considered three periods in which a controlled and standardised enrichment programme was set up, which was made by alternating control sessions (SC) and sessions with different kinds of enrichment
Three control sessions, during which animals followed their daily routine, were alternated by three enrichment sessions: one during which the macaques had feeding enrichment (FE), one where the animals were provided with manipulative enrichment (ME), and the last during which both of the previous kinds of enrichment were employed (MIX)

Summary

Introduction

Non-human primates are still widely used for experimental purposes in Italy (GU no. 28 of 02-02-2019), despite strong constraints on their use by national and international rules and evidence of important currents of ethical opposition to their use at the global level. Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy involves species such as mice, rats, rabbits, gerbils and dogs, which can be introduced into a family and adopted individually (Bucchino 2020). This cannot happen with non-human primates—exotic species that need a special environment and the keeping of which at home is forbidden in most European countries Enrichment can be successfully used to encourage natural species-specific behavioural repertoires, to decrease the rate of abnormal behaviour and to improve welfare in animals under human care (Lutz and Novak 2005; Gronqvist et al 2013).

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