Behavior and Social Aspects of Animal Care - PowerPoint Presentation

Behavior and Social Aspects of Animal Care MONKEYS

Why is understanding behaviour important? Observing behaviour gives us insight to animal’s physical, emotional, and social wellbeing.Allows us to evaluate an animal’s rehabilitation and recovery.Allows us to monitor the stability of social groups and understand how individuals are fitting in.Helps sanctuary managers and caregivers know how to best manage groups of primates.Gives insight as to why animals might be acting the way that they are.Helps caregivers interact with primates using the right “language”.

African monkeys General InformationAfrican monkeys, together with the monkeys of Asia, are called Old World Monkeys or Cercopithecidae, as opposed to the New World Monkeys of South and Central America. This group includes all the Cercopithecine monkeys as well as the Colobines. The Cercopithecids are omnivores and have cheek pouches.The Colobines are leaf-eaters with complex stomachs. Each species have their own unique social and behavioral repertoire.

African monkeys General Information Whilst the Colobines are almost exclusively arboreal, the Cercopithecid family include some partly, or almost entirely, terrestrial species. Comes in all sizes from quite small to large (1,5 – 50 kg). Many species exhibit sexual dimorphism either in the body size (males being substantially bigger than females), coloration (males displaying more color) or in the size of their canine teeth (male canines being larger) Adult male vervet monkey

Social Systems Most African monkeys live in families within multi-male , multi-female, groups. In the wild they have complex societies where individuals have knowledge of, and unique relationships with tens, or even hundreds, of other individuals both within their own group and in the larger population in the area. Drills live in a type of fission-fusion societies where smaller units containing a male with his harem, often join with other families to form mega groups of up to several hundred individuals.

Social Systems Friends and allies - Friendships are essential to a primate’s welfare, providing safety and security. From birth a primate’s most important relationship is with its mother. As the youngsters grow they start exploring and building friendships and other relationships with the rest of the members of the group. Independent of rank, not all individuals have similar social capacities. Young primates learn by social play!

Social Systems PhilopatryWho stays and who transfers out of the group at maturity? Male philopatric – males remain in the group they are born in, and females transfer out.Female philopatric – females remain in the group they are born in, and males transfer out. Black and white colobus monkeys are female philopatric .

Social Systems HierarchiesMonkeys live in hierarchical societies with a dominant animal, or a dominant family of animals, at the top of the ladder.T he dominant animal can be, but doesn’t have to be, the alpha male. In female philopatric species the group is often led by a dominant female and her offspring, a sort of “royal family” = matrilineal societies. In these societies female offspring inherit their mothers’ rank. Males and females in a species often have separate dominance hierarchies. - Each monkey needs to know its place within the hierarchy.

Social Systems From the monkeys’ perspective:- Whether in captivity or in the wild monkeys have a fundamental requirement for social interactions with others. - Fitting in and finding its own place in a social context is essential for a monkey’s wellbeing.- Learning the unique language and social etiquette of its species is what growing up as a young monkey is all about. Young black crested mangabey at Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Center.

Social Systems From the sanctuary’s perspectiveUnderstanding each species’ social system is helpful to almost every aspect of its care in captivity. New primates can be integrated in appropriate groups. Enclosures and facilities can be planned with this in mind. Rehabilitation methods can be adjusted and results measured.

Social Systems How can understanding the hierarchies help the sanctuary?- Caregivers can strive to create as natural social groups as possible.Can be more difficult to integrate females, than young males, into an existing group in matrilineal societies with tendencies for female-female aggression.Adult males of similar age may compete with each other for alpha male position if there are females present in the group.

Communication http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/06/barbary-macaque-facial-expressions-quiz /

Communication Monkey TalkCommunication is key to living in large societies, both for humans and for our primate cousins. - Monkeys communicate via vocal language as well as body postures. Captive monkeys often pick up human habits whilst living with us, but as the more intelligent species, shouldn’t it be us who tried to learn to understand and use their language?

Communication Monkey TalkWild monkeys often constantly chat to each other to keep in touch while foraging.Chatting is a way of expressing “good will”. Social grooming is another important way monkeys “small talk”, i.e. bond with each other and make friends. Grooming can be very deliberate in the way monkeys choose their partners to gain social benefits, i.e. important allies, access to food sources etc.

Communication How can understanding monkey talk help the sanctuary?Careful observations of who is talking to who, as well as who is grooming who, can help caregivers understand dynamics within a group. Similarly, if two monkeys have been heard chatting whilst one is in quarantine, this can give caregivers an idea of where to start the socializations of the new arrival.Paying attention to the ongoing small talk can give caregivers a good understanding of the mood in a social group and help pick up early signs of tensions.

Behavior AggressionMonkeys communicate their moods via postures, behaviors and vocal language. Aggression is normally a last resort. For example before a fight breaks out there is usually ample warnings being displayed between the partners.

Behavior Conflict avoidance - dominance Yawning in a specific monkey’s direction is almost always a warning: “Look at my teeth, I do not want trouble, but I am getting annoyed by you.” Dominance displays to intimidate, for example branch/cage shaking, charging. Direct eye contact can be seen as a challenge. Calm and content monkeys will avoid staring into each others’ eyes.

Behavior Conflict avoidance - submissionThe ability to express submission is essential in monkey societies. Together with submission, moving away from the potential aggressor is a common way monkeys avoid conflicts in the wild. Whenever two or more monkeys are unwilling, or unable, to express submission or avoidance to the more dominant individual(s) in a tense situation, a fight might ensue.The difference between fear and fight is small. A scared and tense monkey is often more likely to cause a fight than one who can keep his nerve.Orphaned monkeys sometimes have inadequate skills in expressing submissive behaviors, leading to excess fear and “jumpiness”.

Behavior - conflict What does this mean for sanctuaries?Some aggression is a normal part of social living. Individuals may need to work out their positions within the hierarchy.Extremely aggressive fights, however, can cause severe injuries and deaths and should be prevented and interrupted. When a dispute has been set and there is a winner, caregivers need to monitor how the looser can avoid a) further conflict and b) being subject to potential bullying. If necessary, intervention is needed to separate individuals and re-arrange living conditions.

Behavior How can understanding monkey talk help the sanctuary?Caregivers can also help the monkeys maintain low stress levels whilst working in and around their enclosures by:Avoiding direct and prolonged eye contact. Quick sideways glances are enough to remind the monkeys that you are aware where they are and what they are up to. Learning the polite way to chat in the species’ own language. Small grunting/smacking/chatting sounds can make a world of difference to a nervous monkey.

Behavior Sexual behaviorsImportant part of monkey societies.Sexual maturity happens at different ages in different species and is not always visible. However, in some species females exhibit sexual swellings when receptive.Female receptiveness almost always elicit tensions amongst the group’s males. Infanticide can occur in some species.

Behavior – sexual What does this mean for the sanctuary?- Natural group dynamics often follow the female cycles, with more activity and tensions during receptive days. Caregivers need to be aware of the infanticide risk when introducing females with own or adopted young, as well as when introducing adult males to an existing group with females and young. Female vervet monkey with adopted son at The Vervet Monkey Foundation

Behavior Abnormal behaviorsA common symptom of decreased animal welfare in rescued primates. Examples:Self harming, including biting or scratching a spot until it is raw and potentially bleeding. Thumb sucking Rocking or pacing back and forth Fur plucking, from self or others Self hugging

Behavior Abnormal behaviors are not part of the standard behavioral repertoire for the speciesOften abnormal behaviors are a function of the environment that an individual was raised in. Abnormal behaviors due to early maternal deprivation are common in orphaned primates.However, some behaviors that seem abnormal to humans may not be abnormal for primates.It is important to avoid labeling all unwanted behaviors as abnormal, simply because we do not appreciate them.

Behavior - abnormal What does this mean for the sanctuary?Depending on the severity of the abnormal behavior, it is important for caregivers to recognize and interfere to interrupt or alleviate it. Social stimulation can do wonders to improve these conditions, but social stresses can also make them worse ! Distractions , such as enrichments, often work to stimulate the monkey’s brain and interrupt the behavior . Caregivers should strive to make individual observations of triggers for the behavior and then attempt to come up with solutions on a case by case basis.

Using Behavior for Management Scenario 1: A young female patas monkey has recently arrived at a sanctuary and is being housed next to the resident adult patas couple. The male seems friendly towards the newcomer, but the adult female is suddenly behaving very aggressively and displays a lot from her enclosure. The little one seems mostly unfazed by the threats, responding with play behaviors. How should the sanctuary go about introducing the newcomer to the group?

Using behavior for management Scenario 1: Patas monkey social systems: Patas monkeys live in matrilineal societies with female philopatry . Up to 20-40 females can live in a group which has a very strong female hierarchy. Only one adult male is normally resident throughout the year. At this sanctuary a larger group with more females would be ideal. The adult female is currently jealously defending her male and territory; she needs to be able to establish her dominance.

Using behavior for management Scenario 1:Solution : Before the resident female’s stress levels rise too high, a possible one-to-one meet, between the two females, should be arranged in a safe and supervised area out of visual sight of the adult male . If the newcomer is very young and childish and hopefully also able to exhibit appropriate submissive behviors, the adult female can quickly establish her dominance and a group introduction to the adult male is thereafter predicted to be smooth. Young patas monkey at Ape Action Africa

Using behavior for management Scenario 2:A vervet monkey is displaying some curious behavior which has attracted interest from some of the staff. During daily work around his enclosure the monkey will often watch the staff and whenever someone looks in his direction he will flash his eyelids and show off the pink skin above his eyes in a flirty-looking sort of way. Some of the staff are amused by this and respond by flashing their eyelids back at him. As a result the monkey is becoming ever more obsessed by watching and monitoring people. What is going on here? Vervet at the Vervet Monkey Foundation

Using behavior for management Scenario 2:Vervet monkey behavior: Vervet monkeys communicate with other members of their group in many ways to express their emotions and avoid conflict. The flashing of the eyelids is a behavior they share with many other African monkeys, and it always mean the same thing. Flashing and revealing the pink skin above the eyes is a threat that communicates annoyance. This monkey may have some past traumatic experiences with humans which has led him to become easily stressed by the daily routines around his enclosure. The fact that some staff are responding by threatening him back has, in the monkey’s mind, confirmed his fears and he is therefore vigorously continuing his obsessive monitoring.

Using behavior for management Scenario 2:Solution: This monkey’s attempts at communicating his annoyance has been misunderstood. The staff need to immediately take a step back from his enclosure and stop repeating the threat back at him. Whenever working around his enclosure the staff should try to act as calmly as possible and avoid eye contact. Whenever necessary work is going on around this monkey’s enclosure care givers could try and provide some distractions in the form of enrichment or food scatters. This could hopefully break the negative pattern and instead help build up more positive associations with humans.

Using behavior for management Scenario 3:Caregivers are observing a recent arrival to the sanctuary, a baby blue monkey/samango monkey, being very unresponsive to her environment whilst sucking her thumb, clutching her arms around her body, and rocking. Rescued samango infant at Vervet Monkey Foundation

Using behavior for management Scenario 3:What does it mean? All monkeys have relatively long childhoods when they are dependent on their mothers for all their needs. Baby blue monkeys are dependent on their mothers for around a year, but other females in the group help with the task of carrying the young, a behavior called “ alloparenting”. The babies thrive in this socially caring environment where there is always a warm lap to jump into when they are scared or tired. This baby needs more physical contact to develop confidence and to avoid making this traumatic early life experience result in permanent psychological damage.

Using behavior for management Scenario 3:Solution: If possible, foster this baby on to a caring female. Because this species exhibits alloparenting, females are often more than willing to “adopt” unrelated young.Otherwise, caregivers should take care to carry and comfort this baby until she is a little bit older and has gained some more confidence. If no other blue monkeys are present at the sanctuary, it is worth knowing that this species often live in close association with other monkeys in the wild (mainly with red tailed guenons and various red colobus monkeys). It may be worth trying to socialize this baby into any potential group as soon as possible in order to improve her welfare. Blue monkeys often associate with red tailed guenons (pictured) in the wild.

The PASA Primate Care Training Program is made possible by a generous grant from Fondation Brigitte Bardot.