Short and long-term effects of a substantial change in cage size on individually housed, adult male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
2004 |
Authors: |
B. Kaufman |
Publication/Journal: |
Applied Animal Behaviour Science |
Keywords: |
abnormal behavior, abnormal behaviour, activity, cage size, rhesus monkey, tension |
ISBN: |
01681591 |
Abstract:
We investigated the effects of a six-fold increase in cage size on the behaviour of individually housed male rhesus monkeys. Limitations of previous studies included the magnitude of change in cage size, the length of the observation period, and the potential confounds of relocation. Prior to this study, eight male monkeys were individually housed in pens (6.77m3) for varying lengths of time before moving to baboon cages (1.24m3) located within their pens. After 2 years in baboon cages, monkeys were returned to their pen environment (6.77m3). Monkeys were observed for forty 5min observation periods representing four phases: short (first 4 months) and long-term (after 23 months) exposure to the baboon cage followed by short (first month) and long-term (after 8 months) exposure to the pen environment. Contrary to expectations, general activity decreased and abnormal behaviour remained unchanged when the monkeys were returned to their pens. However, tension-related behaviour decreased significantly with exposure to a larger cage. The results of this study suggest that cage size does not have a detectable impact on habitual kinds of abnormal behaviour but may significantly affect the level of tension.