Abstract
Providing cognitive challenges to zoo-housed animals may provide enriching effects and subsequently enhance their welfare. Primates may benefit most from such challenges as they often face complex problems in their natural environment and can be observed to seek problem solving opportunities in captivity. However, the extent to which welfare benefits can be achieved through programmes developed primarily for cognitive research is unknown. We tested the impact of voluntary participation cognitive testing on the welfare of a socially housed group of crested macaques (Macaca nigra) at the Macaque Study Centre (Marwell Zoo). First, we compared the rate of self-directed and social behaviours on testing and non-testing days, and between conditions within testing days. Minimal differences in behaviour were found when comparing testing and non-testing days, suggesting that there was no negative impact on welfare as a result of cognitive testing. Lipsmacking behaviours were found to increase and aggressive interaction was found to decrease in the group as a result of testing. Second, social network analysis was used to assess the effect of testing on associations and interactions between individuals. The social networks showed that testing subjects increased their association with others during testing days. One interpretation of this finding could be that providing socially housed primates with an opportunity for individuals to separate from the group for short periods could help mimic natural patterns of sub-group formation and reunion in captivity. The findings suggest, therefore, that the welfare of captive primates can be improved through the use of cognitive testing in zoo environments.
Highlights
Introducing cognitive challenges into captive environments is increasingly recognised as a potential method to enhance the welfare of captive animals through the enriching effects of problem solving [1]
Data were compiled from the three testing conditions to form an overall testing day condition; this was in order to compare typical non-testing days to typical testing days
We tested the impact of a cognitive research programme on a social group of zoo-housed primates
Summary
Introducing cognitive challenges into captive environments is increasingly recognised as a potential method to enhance the welfare of captive animals through the enriching effects of problem solving [1]. These benefits have been documented when presenting animals with both naturalistic problem solving opportunities, such as elaborate foraging mechanisms, and more recently, nonnaturalistic problem solving opportunities through the interaction with computerised devices [2]. Most of the studies to date assess the welfare impact of devices which were developed with the specific aim to increase enrichment. Empirical studies examining the impact that cognitive testing can have on the behaviours of group housed primates are essential before we can claim that they can result in positive effects on welfare
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