AR-News: Breakthrough: Air travel stressful to monkeys

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From:primfocus at waste.org

Lab Anim. 2004 Apr;38(2):119-32.


A study of behavioural responses of non-human primates to air transport and
re-housing.

Honess PE, Johnson PJ, Wolfensohn SE.

Department of Veterinary Services, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT and
Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of
Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.

More long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) than any other primate are
imported into the UK for research, and journey times may be of up to 58 h.
Whilst a number of studies have examined the stress associated with
transport, these have typically involved laboratory rodents and livestock,
and little is known of its effect on non-human primates. This paper reports
the results of a study of behavioural changes in a group of long-tailed
macaques transported by air from standard breeding conditions and then
re-housed in standard laboratory primate conditions. The animals were
studied prior to their departure, immediately after their arrival, and 3
weeks after that. Data were collected on individual time budgets using focal
animal sampling and on hierarchy using a feeding trial. The data were
analysed for changes in behavioural repertoires and for social perturbation
that would be reflected in hierarchical changes. Changes in behaviour
occurred which reflected heightened levels of stress in the study group. It
was also clear that although there was some adjustment of behaviour, after
an initial change on arrival at the new establishment, there was no return
to levels observed at the breeding facility within the first month. This
study demonstrates that, as a whole, the process of international air
transport and re-housing in laboratory conditions may result in the
compromising of the welfare of the study animals.



the wild, cruel beast is not behind the bars of the cage. he is in front of it - axel munthe

"Never doubt that a small group of dedicated citizens can change the world. 
Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."      Margaret Mead
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