Title 9, Code of Federal Regulations, Subchapter A – Animal Welfare Part 3 Standards, Subpart D Specifications for the Humane Handling, Care, Treatment, and Transportation of Nonhuman Primates, Section 3.81

Sec. 3.81 Environment enhancement to promote psychological well-being.

Dealers, exhibitors, and research facilities must develop, document, and follow an appropriate plan for environment enhancement adequate to promote the psychological well-being of nonhuman primates. The plan must be in accordance with the currently accepted professional standards as cited in appropriate professional journals or reference guides, and as directed by the attending veterinarian. This plan must be made available to APHIS upon request, and, in the case of research facilities, to officials of any pertinent funding agency. The plan, at a minimum, must address each of the following:

(a) Social grouping. The environment enhancement plan must include specific provisions to address the social needs of nonhuman primates of species known to exist in social groups in nature.

Individually housed nonhuman primates must be able to see and hear nonhuman primates of their own or compatible species unless the attending veterinarian determines that it would endanger their health, safety, or well-being.

Canadian Council on Animal Care, Olfert ED, Cross BM, McWilliam AA 1993. Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental Animals, Volume 1, 2nd Edition. Canadian Council on Animal Care, Ottawa
"The social needs of animals used in research, teaching, or testing, should be given equal consideration with environmental factors such as lighting, heating, ventilations and containment (caging). Particularly in the case of singly housed animals, daily observation provides an alternative from of social contact for the animal and commonly facilitates handling in that the animal becomes accustomed to the human presence. .. Most animals should not be housed singly unless required by medical condition, aggression, or dictates of the study. Singly housed animals should have some degree of social contact with others of their own kind. ... In the interest of well-being, a social environment is desired for each animal which will allow basic social contacts and positive social relationships. Social behaviour assists animals to cope with circumstances of confinement."

European Commission 2002.The Welfare of Non-human Primates - Report of the Scientific Committe on Animal Health and Animal Welfare. European Commission, Strasbourg, France
http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scah/out83_en.pdf
"Primates should not be housed singly unless fully justified by health considerations (for the animal and human handler) or research procedures, as advised following an ethical review process. If primates have to be singly housed, the animals should have visual, olfactory and autitory contact with conspecifics.”

International Primatological Society 1993. IPS International guidelines for the acquisition, care and breeding of nonhuman primates, Codes of Practice 1-3. Primate Report 35, 3-29
" A compatible conspecific probably provides more appropriate stimulation to a captive primate than any other potential environmental enrichment factor. ... Monkeys should, unless there are compelling reasons for not doing so, be housed socially. ... Young monkey should not normally be separated from its mother at an early age (i.e., at 3-6 months) but should remain in contact for one year to 18 months, in most species. There is unlikely to be any greater productivity through early weaning, in seasonally breeding species, such as rhesus monkeys. Even in non-seasonal breeders, any slight increase in productivity must be offset against the resulting behavioural abnormalities of the offspring."

National Research Council 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 7th Edition. National Academy Press, Washington
"Animals should be housed with the goal of maximizing species-specific behaviors and minimizing stress-induced behaviors. For social species, this normally requires housing in compatible pairs or groups."

National Research Council 1998. The Psychological Well-Being of Nonhuman Primates. National Academy Press, Washington
"Social interactions are considered to be one of the most important factors influencing the psychological well-being of most nonhuman primates. ... The common practice of housing rhesus monkeys singly calls for special attention [p. 99] ... Every effort should be made to house these [singly caged] animals socially (in groups or pairs), but when this is not possible, the need for single housing should be documented by investigators and approved by the IACUC. ... The animal technician's and caregiver's roles are pivotal to the social support of primates, particularly animals that are singly caged."

Immediate improvements:

·         At the Carnivore area, a keeper started to make immediate changes and the animals showed instant positive response.

·         At the Primate area a single housed male squirrel monkey was immediately introduced to two other squirrel monkeys.

·         Farm area staff refused any collaboration with the consultant.

Browse

The zoo has a large amount of edible vegetation available on grounds that can provide fresh, leafy branches (browse).

Suggestions:

Browse should be provided at least every 2-3 days, but if possible, every day for animals that need it. The zoo can plant edible trees, bushes and even crops inside and outside of exhibits, along visitor pathways and resting areas that will provide future browsing materials for growing collection demands. Whether cut by staff or available by natural damage, fallen vegetation can be used rather than wasted.

Correct Furniture

Suggestions:

During the winter, animals (especially tropical animals) need to spend large amounts of time in front of heating units. Resting areas (platforms, baskets, etc.) in front of the heating units are preferred. They are more comfortable for the animals and less of a safety and burn hazard. Heating units should be elevated to higher parts of exhibits for arboreal animals, such as squirrel monkeys.

Mixed Species Exhibits

Mixed species exhibits can be created in order to free up space and develop a more esthetic, complex exhibition. This type of exhibit also resolves certain problems associated with housing otherwise social species alone until they are paired paired with a conspecific. Please review the photos of Phoenix Zoo mixed exhibits.

Pet Trade

Outside vendors selling pets at the front gate should not be encouraged. These animals are kept in substandard circumstances such as small, sterile cages without shelter from the elements (fish in Ping-Pong ball size containers, guinea pigs freezing during winter without substrate, etc.). Chengdu Zoo, as one of the top four zoos in China, did a great job on animal conservation and education, while such vendors just send wrong message to visitors and could easily hurt Chengdu Zoo’s reputation.

Extending Foraging Time

Suggestions:

All animals need to be fed in a way that their foraging time is extended and proper species-specific behaviors are encouraged. If no one can be appointed for this position, staff can be scheduled to cut browse and chop diet on a rotation basis.

Smoking

Keepers were often observed smoking, some of them inside the night house right next to the animals.

Suggestions:

The zoo should change its smoking policy by creating designated smoking areas for visitors with tables, chairs, ashtrays and garbage cans. All visitors that want to smoke should be directed to these areas. In addition, keepers should no longer smoke in front of visitors and absolutely should not smoke inside the animals' night houses and/or next to the animals. Keepers must also have designated smoking areas behind the scenes, out of visitor view. Keepers should only smoke during their breaks. 
   

Education

The following PowerPoint presentations were given to all staff: 

·         Lack of Substrate Use in Zoos addresses the easy fix of empty cages and shows how much benefit there is in the animals’ lives when provided with substrate (i.e., when they do not have to sit inside of empty, concrete cages). This is probably the most important animal welfare presentation to give out of the five.

·         Contra Freeloading at the Phoenix Zoo talks about extending foraging times by making animals work for their food in ways similar to their wild counterparts, instead  of eating diet in short periods of time from provided dishes.

·         The Beneficial Browse presentation provides guidelines on how to develop a low cost, zoo-wide browse program in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. It also addresses the major changes that fresh, leafy greens can make in the animals’ lives.

·         Let Them Be Elephants addresses the changes the Phoenix Zoo made in our elephants’ lives, how we helped their behaviors by teaching them how to correctly forage and behave like normal females. It also talks about basic husbandry, enrichment ideas and health care.

 Presentations are available at htresz@thephxzoo.com.

I would like to thank the Chengdu Zoo’s director and staff, as well as the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens (CAZG), for their incredible hospitality — making me feel so welcomed.

I would also like to thank Animals Asia Foundation for funding and organizing this trip and to establish such a wonderful, working relationship between the Jane Goodall Institute, the Phoenix Zoo and the Chengdu Zoo.

References:

Harris,S. & Lossa, G & Soulsbury, S.D. A review of the welfare of wild animals in circuses

School of Biological Sciences, Woodland Rd, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1UG http://www.rspca.org.uk/ImageLocator/LocateAsset?asset=document&assetId=1232714755621&mode=prd

Hemsworth, P.H. & Barnett, J.L. (2000) Human-animal interactions and animal stress. In: The biology of animal stress (eds. Moberg, G.P. & Mench, J.A.), pp. 309-335. CABI.Publishing, Oxon, UK

Morgan, K.N. & Tromborg, C.T. (2006) Sources of stress in captivity. Applied Animal Behaviour Science doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2006.05.032

Moberg, G.P. (2000) Biological response to stress: implications for animal welfare. In: The biology of animal stress (eds. Moberg, G.P. & Mench, J.A.), pp. 1-21. CABI. Publishing, Oxon, UK

Tresz,H. (2011). The lack of substrate use in zoos, ICEE.

CNN Wire Staff (2011). Animal performance ban looms in China

Morgan, K.N. & Tromborg, C.T. (2006) Sources of stress in captivity. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 10.1016/j.applanim.2006.05.032http://www.reed.edu/biology/professors/srenn/pages/teaching/2008_syllabus/2008_readings/1_MorganTromborg2008.pdf