Social management of captive primate populations
We are focusing on the effect of different management methods on group behaviour and long-term breeding in a range of managed primate species.
Overview
Captive breeding programmes provide important safeguard populations for endangered species. Studbook co-ordination requires intensive population management with specific demographic and genetic objectives to maintain a self-sustaining captive population. Due to advances in the knowledge of captive husbandry, breeding and species biology, many studbooks have problems managing and housing surplus animals.
Wild Planet Trust staff manage a number of EAZA ex-situ programmes and, due to improvements in genetic knowledge of these populations, a variety of techniques to manage captive groups and population growth are being implemented.
We are focusing the majority of our work on the Sulawesi crested macaque (Macaca nigra), to determine the effect of different management methods on group behaviour and long-term breeding. Our research is endorsed by both the EAZA Afro-Eurasian Monkey Taxon Advisory Group and the EAZA Reproductive Management Group.
Outputs
Baker, K.R., Farmer, H.L. (2023). The Welfare of Primates in Zoos. In: Robinson, L.M., Weiss, A. (eds) Nonhuman Primate Welfare. Springer, Cham.
Farmer, H.L., Baker, K.R., Cabana, F. (2023). Housing and Husbandry for Primates in Zoos. In: Robinson, L.M., Weiss, A. (eds) Nonhuman Primate Welfare. Springer, Cham.
Parry-Howell, N. Baker, K.R., Farmer, H.L. (2023). The link between personality, subjective well-being, and welfare in the Sulawesi crested macaque (Macaca nigra). International Journal of Primatology.