Monitoring the behaviour and stress physiology of male gorillas Gorilla gorilla gorilla for one year following bachelor group formation
Gorillas Gorilla gorilla gorilla are polygynous so zoos are challenged to provide lifelong socialisation for males not living in mixed-sex or breeding troops. One approach is to establish and manage all-male “bachelor” groups; however, there is little published information on the behavioural and physiological impacts that group formation may have on these individuals. Therefore, we […]
Physiological and behavioral effects of social introduction on adult male rhesus macaques
Pair housing of laboratory macaques is widely considered to lead to positive changes in well-being, yet the process of introduction is viewed as potentially stressful and risk-prone. Behavioral and physiological data were collected on eight adult male rhesus macaques before, during, and after the process of introduction, in order to measure the initial stress of […]
Higher levels of submissive behaviors at the onset of the pairing process of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) are associated with lower risk of wounding following introduction
Social housing of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) is considered to be the cornerstone of behavioral management programs in biomedical facilities. However, it also involves the risk of socially inflicted trauma. The ability to avoid such trauma would contribute to the animals’ well-being and alleviate staff’s concerns, thus paving the path for more introductions. Here, we […]