Space Utilization by Captive-Born Baboons (Papio sp.) Before and After Provision of Structural Enrichment
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
1996 |
Authors: |
A.L. Kessel, L. Brent |
Publication/Journal: |
Animal Welfare |
Keywords: |
animal welfare, baboon, enrichment, group-size, space utilization |
Abstract:
Eight baboon groups (Papio sp.) were observed for over one hundred scan samples both before and after the provision of structural enrichment. Additions to their home-cage included a galvanized ladder suspended horizontally by chains and a plastic drum hung from the ladder. Observations were conducted for three weeks before and three weeks after the structures were added to determine changes in space use. The baboons’ age-sex class and location were recorded at 10 minute intervals over a 60 minute time period. Groups were categorized as small, medium or large for analysis. The baboons spent most of their time on the floor and the bench and this pattern did not change with the addition of the new structures. The female baboons used the new structures an average of 16.5 per cent of the observation time, the males used them 13.6 per cent of the time, and the infants used them 10.1 per cent of the time. Of the new structures, males, females and infants all used the ladder the most. Females and infants used areas that were inaccessible to males and no group size differences were found.