Understanding how primates interact socially is important for their well-being and scientific research. A new study conducted by Dr. Amanda Murti, Clive Wilson, Antonio Pemberton, Tatiana Corey, Dr. Loveness Dzikiti, Dr. John Elsworth, and Dr. Calvin Carpenter of Virscio Inc.Chösepas) can successfully live together as a homosexual pair and three groups. Their research, published in the journal Peer Review Veterinary Science, provides useful insights into the best ways to create a comfortable and healthy environment for these animals in research facilities.
African green monkeys are used more frequently in biomedical research, and these monkeys focus on understanding the disease and developing medical treatments because of the shortage of non-human primates that researchers have traditionally relied on. Since these monkeys are naturally social, it is important to make sure they live in groups rather than in isolation, which may affect their physical and mental health. Dr. Murti and her team have developed a method to match monkeys based on factors such as age, weight and cage size to find the most compatible social partners. They found that both male and female monkeys performed well in pairs, and female monkeys were more likely to succeed in three or three groups than males.
One of the key points of this study is that social housing has a direct and positive impact on the well-being of monkeys. The successful combination of groups showed more friendly behaviors, such as modifying each other, and seemed to be in a better overall health. Dr. Murti’s research shows that almost all female monkeys adapt well to pairs or trio life, while male pairs have slightly lower success. The group of three male monkeys is the most challenging to manage, which shows that additional attention is needed when introducing each other.
The study also found that, especially for men who can exhibit territorial behavior, greater living space is provided and the introduction of monkeys into the fence, which was a new creation for all of the people in the group during the initial socialization period, helping to improve their chances of forming stable groups. “Allowing monkeys to live with others is a key way to keep them happy and healthy, and our research shows that a well-planned introduction can greatly improve their getting along,” Dr. Murtie said. The team also observed that although some skirmishes emerged early, they were often resolved quickly when monkeys established social hierarchies, a ranking system in groups that decide on domination and interaction.
The findings of Dr. Murti and her colleagues highlight the importance of using structured and research-based approaches to social housing, meaning well-planned and supported approaches in a scientific environment. Ensuring that monkeys have the right social environment will not only improve their quality of life, but will also lead to more reliable research results. As African green monkeys continue to play an increasingly role in biomedical research, applying these best practices is crucial to maintaining ethical and effective research conditions.
Journal Reference
Murtie, AM; Wilson, CC; Pemberton, AF; Corey, TM; dzikiti, ln; Elsworth, JD; CB, CB “The factors that determine the successful housing of African green monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) are homosexual and three people.” Veterinary Science, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11120667
Image reference
Tjabeljan, CC by 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
About the Author
Dr. Amanda Murti is a research veterinarian who specializes in non-human primates. She is particularly interested in non-human primate behavior and the creation of lasting social groups. “Caribbean African green monkey is such a unique species and a real privilege to work with. My favorite job is to see a successful social group start to combine and exhibit natural subordinate behaviors,” Dr. Merty said. She is also particularly interested in reproductive physiology, neurobiology and conservation medicine.
Dr. Murti received DVM from Rose University’s School of Veterinary Medicine and received clinical training at Tufts University’s School of Veterinary Medicine. In addition to laboratory veterinary medicine, she has a background in endangered species research, endocrinology, and small animals and appearance emergency/intensive care medicine.
