We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Effects of scent enrichment on behavioral and physiological indicators of stress in zoo primates.
- Authors
Vaglio, Stefano; Kaburu, Stefano S. K.; Pearce, Richard; Bryant, Luke; McAuley, Ailie; Lott, Alexandria; Sheppard, Demi J.; Smith, Sarah; Tompkins, Beth; Elwell, Emily; Fontani, Sara; Young, Christopher; Marliani, Giovanna; Accorsi, Pier Attilio
- Abstract
Captive breeding is vital for primate conservation, with modern zoos serving a crucial role in breeding populations of threatened species and educating the general public. However, captive populations can experience welfare issues that may also undermine their reproductive success. To enhance the wellbeing of endangered zoo primates, we conducted a study to assess the effects of a new scent enrichment program on captive red‐ruffed lemurs (Varecia rubra), black howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya), siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus), lar gibbons (Hylobates lar) and orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus). We combined behavioral observations and fecal endocrinology analyses to evaluate the effects of a series of essential oils (benzoin, lavender, lemongrass) on five captive troops (N = 19) housed at Dudley Zoo & Castle and Twycross Zoo (UK). We recorded observations of natural species‐specific and abnormal stress‐related behaviors for 480 h using instantaneous scan sampling. We collected 189 fecal samples and measured the fecal cortisol concentrations using radioimmunoassay. We found a significant effect of the scent enrichment on behaviors, with red‐ruffed lemurs and black howler monkeys reducing their social interactions, as well as red‐ruffed lemurs and lar gibbons decreasing their stress‐related behaviors after they were exposed to the series of essential oils. We also found that red‐ruffed lemurs displayed a significant increase in fecal glucocorticoids following exposure to essential oils. Our contradictory findings suggest that the effects of this series of essential oils may change depending on the species‐specific social lives and olfactory repertoires of primates. In conclusion, we cannot recommend using these essential oils widely with zoo primates without additional evaluation. Research Highlights: Essential oils, such as benzoin, lavender, and lemongrass, may work as scent enrichment to decrease the stress levels of zoo primates across the major lineages.This is particularly the case of social primate species where odor plays a crucial role, such as red‐ruffed lemurs.Following exposure to the series of essential oils, red‐ruffed lemurs spent less time engaging with reassurance‐derived social interactions and exhibited lower rates of stress‐related behaviors.Red‐ruffed lemurs also increased their levels of fecal glucocorticoid concentrations, which may be associated with an increase in activity by individual lemurs.
- Subjects
UNITED Kingdom; PHYSIOLOGICAL stress; PRIMATES; ZOOS; ESSENTIAL oils; LEMURS; ODORS
- Publication
American Journal of Primatology, 2021, Vol 83, Issue 5, p1
- ISSN
0275-2565
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/ajp.23247