ABS 2023
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Enhancing Welfare and Behavior: Enrichment Strategies for Rehabilitating Captive Primates
Angie Paola Varila Murcia1, Germ�n A Gutierrez1, Ana Lucia Arbaiza2. 1National University of Colombia, Bogot� D.C., Outside US/Canada, Colombia; 2University of G�ttingen, Germany, Outside US/Canada, Germany

Illegal wildlife trafficking is the third most lucrative illicit business in the world [1]. Among the most trafficked species are primates, which, after being captured or confiscated, are often kept in enclosures that do not meet their needs [2]. It is common to observe animals exhibiting stereotypic behaviors, excessive grooming and activity budgets that differ from their conspecifics in the wild [3]. Animals in enriched environments display a wider range of normal behaviors, handle potential stressors more naturally, reduce the expression of problematic behaviors, show greater cognitive abilities, and increase their overall activity [4]. With the aim of supporting the behavioral rehabilitation process of a group of 6 primates of the genus Cebus, a sequential experimental design will be carried out to evaluate the effects of two enrichment strategies on foraging and feeding behaviors. Preliminary results indicate that implementing enrichment strategies increases the frequency and duration of interaction with food, promotes a greater variety in daily activity patterns, and reduces the expression of stereotypies in some individuals.

Spanish Version

El tr�fico ilegal de animales es el tercer negocio il�cito m�s lucrativo del mundo [1]. Entre las especies m�s traficadas se encuentran los primates, que luego de ser entregados o decomisados se mantienen en encierros que no se ajustan a sus caracter�sticas y necesidades. Es com�n observar animales que presentan estereotipias, acicalamiento excesivo y presupuestos de actividad que difieren de sus conespec�ficos en vida libre [2]. Animales en entornos enriquecidos presentan una gama m�s amplia de comportamientos normales, afrontan de manera m�s natural potenciales estresores, disminuyen la expresi�n de comportamientos problem�ticos, presentan una mayor capacidad cognitiva y su actividad general tambi�n aumenta [3]. Con el objetivo de apoyar el proceso de rehabilitaci�n comportamental de un grupo de 6 primates del genero cebus, se realizar� un dise�o experimental secuencial para evaluar los efectos de dos estrategias de enriquecimiento en las conductas de forrajeo y consumo. Resultados preliminares indican que implementar estrategias de enriquecimiento incrementa la frecuencia y tiempo de interacci�n con los alimentos, promueve una mayor variedad de los patrones de actividad diaria y disminuye la expresi�n de estereotipias que pueden presentar los animales.