Behavioral Training in First-Generation Long-Tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis) for Improved Husbandry and Veterinary Procedures
by
,
Lalitta Suriya-Arunroj
*,†,
Motee Chimngam
,
Chutikan Chamnongpakdee
,
Thipchompoo Sing-Ayudthaya
,
Chunapa Linchekhaw
,
Nopparat Kongsombat
and
Nutchanat Suttisan
National Primate Research Center of Thailand, Chulalongkorn University, Saraburi 18110, Thailand
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
Current address: Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Animals 2024, 14(16), 2369; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162369
Submission received: 12 May 2024
/
Revised: 6 August 2024
/
Accepted: 7 August 2024
/
Published: 15 August 2024
(This article belongs to the Section Animal Welfare)
Simple Summary
Behavioral training is an internationally accepted and recommended tool in enhancing the welfare of captive animals, facilitating their habituation to unfamiliar environments, and promoting cooperation with routine care procedures. Long-tailed monkeys were previously reported to be fearful and difficult to train. Moreover, wild long-tailed monkeys from monkey–human conflict areas can add more challenges; their prior experience with humans can either facilitate or complicate training processes. This project aimed to apply behavioral training techniques, established for captive-born primates, to test whether wild long-tailed monkeys could be trained to cooperate with routine and animal-care procedures and to determine the time required for each training exercise. Additionally, cortisol levels, a key indicator of stress, were monitored to evaluate the animals’ stress responses, providing an additional metric for determining the success of training. This study offers the first validation of a primate behavioral training program wild long-tailed macaques, contributing valuable insights into the refinement of welfare practices for this specific population.
Abstract
Owing to their similarities to humans in various aspects, non-human primates (NHPs) serve as valuable translational models that has greatly contributed to scientific advancements. However, working with untrained NHPs can cause stress and increase the risk of injuries to both animals and care staff, compromising both animal welfare and occupational safety. Behavioral training, that benefits from animals’ learning abilities to gain their cooperation during husbandry and veterinary procedures, is a well-established method to mitigate these risks. Cynomolgus monkeys, in particular, are known for being despotic, fearful, and challenging to train. Moreover, our first-generation breeders were wild-sourced from human–macaque conflict areas in Thailand. These macaque populations are accustomed with human contact; hence, their prior experience can either work for or against behavioral shaping plans. Establishing a training program with realistic expectations would benefit both the animals and trainers. In this study, six cynomolgus monkeys were selected based on temperament, then underwent a pilot training program that included basic husbandry and veterinary procedures. Over 256 training sessions with gradual shaping plans, all six monkeys went through all training steps, with progress varying considerably among individuals. Cortisol levels were measured to monitor stress responses, revealing a notable sex difference: female monkeys generally complied more easily with the trainer but exhibited a stronger cortisol increase compared to males. This study proposed a behavioral training program grounded in three essential components: temperament assessment, behavioral shaping plans, and the cortisol-based criteria for evaluating training success.
Keywords:
long-tailed monkeys; distress; saliva collection; cortisol; venipuncture; primate chair
