Feeding Behavior of Tonkean Macaques (Macaca tonkeana) in Schmutzer Primates Center and Ragunan Zoo, Jakarta

Abstract

Tonkean macaque s are one of seven endemic macaque species on Sulawesi Island . Feeding management in captivity should pay attention to the quality , palatability, and feeding behavior patterns of animals . T he goal of t his study was to compare the feeding behavior o f two social groups of Tonkean macaque s at Schmutzer Primates Center (SPC) and Ragunan Zoo (RZ) with different captive management, which was expected to affect feeding behavior . Ad libitum sampling was used to observe daily behavior and hierarchy , while f ocal animal sampling was used to observe feeding behavior and f ee d preference . Data were collected from September 2013 until March 2014 with a total of 495 hours of observations. There were significant differences between the daily behavi o r of two groups of Tonkean macaque s . R esting behavior was dominant in RZ group with non-enrichment f ee d cage , while feeding behavior was more common in the SPC group with an enrichment f ee d cage . The SPC group spent most of their feeding time in searching for feed , while choosing, carrying and refusing were greater in the RZ group. Both Tonkean macaque groups showed individual dominance in their feeding behavior . Provisioned f ee d in both locations ha d different diversity and preference values . The selection of feed required was based on preference values with attention to Tonkean macaque s ’ feed in nature. Cage construction, such as the SPC cage , wa s able to reduce abnormal behavior exhibited by individuals.