Threats to observers, keepers, visitors, and others by zoo mangabeys (Cercocebus galeritus chrysogaster)

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The facial threats of ten captive golden-bellied mangabeys (Cercocebus galeritus chrysogaster) were categorized by object threatened. Adult males threatened more than did females except when the object was a nonhuman primate in a neighboring eage. Juvenile mangabeys threatened mainly in play within their own enclosures. Keepers and observers did not differ in frequency of being threatened by the mangabeys. Adult female mangabeys seemed more concerned with neighboring cages of nonhuman primates than were the juveniles and the males. Human visitors to the enclosures received by far the most threats of any targets, certainly far more than the observers and keepers. They were treated like interlopers. Keepers were treated like familiar conspecifics, observers like familiar neighbors. The implications of these findings for captive management of primates and for observational methods in behavioral primatology are discussed.

Influence of Zoo Visitor Presence on the Behavior of Captive Indian Gaur (Bos gaurus gaurus) in a Zoological Park

“…The results of most studies can be interpreted to show that some zoo animals find the presence of large, active groups of visitors stressful (Bassett, Buchanan-Smith, & Mickinley, 2003;Hosey, 2000;Hosey & Druck, 1987;Mitchell, Obradovich, Herring, Dowd, & Tromburg, 1991), although there are some findings that contradict this trend Synder, 1975), There may be individual or species variation expressed in response to zoo-visitor presence and absence.…”

Human–Animal Bonds Between Zoo Professionals and the Animals in Their Care

“…Other behavioral benefits may occur when particular humans spend more time with the animals, for example by learning and using the animals’ own signals [Jensvold, ], by performing shows for the public [Koene and Jansen, ] or through using positive reinforcement training [Colahan and Breder, ; Savastano et al, ; Carrasco et al, ]. On the other hand, some zoo animals may be wary of their keepers [Thompson, ], or may threaten them [Mitchell et al, ] or even attack them [Gore et al, ]. In the former two studies no indications are given of the past history of interactions those animals had with those keepers, but in the study by Gore et al [] 24% of elephant attacks were directed at keepers who were new, or were former keepers visiting the enclosure.…”

Individual differences in zoo‐housed squirrel monkeys' (Saimiri sciureus) reactions to visitors, research participation, and personality ratings

“…There could also be some confounds in the personality ratings, as the keepers who filled them out have inherently different types of interactions with the monkeys than the visitors. Primates can differentiate between keepers or observers and unfamiliar visitors (Mitchell, Obradovich, Herring, Dowd, & Tromborg, ). Because the keepers only see the monkeys when the monkeys are around people they are familiar with (themselves), their assessments of personality may be biased towards those types of situations and may be less able to predict the monkeys' personalities around unfamiliar visitors.…”

“…In order to minimize observer effect, prior to each session there was a 10‐min period where the observer was present at the window but did not record data. This time frame was determined based on the experiences of the zookeepers, as well as on previous research that showed that primates habituate to the presence of non‐visitor observers within that time frame (Mitchell, Obradovich, Herring, Dowd, & Tromborg, ).…”