Abels, J. (2004). Black and white ruffed lemur nest box. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 43(1): 15. ISSN: 0023-6861.
Online: http://www.brown.edu/Research/Primate/lpn43-1.html#nest
Descriptors: nest box description, answer to list-serve question, nesting material, number of nest boxes offered.
Caltran, E., D. Grassi, R. Perbellini, E. Baistrocchi, and M. Turchetto (2002). Effects of structural enrichment on the activity of a group of captive red ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata rubra). Advances in Ethology 37: 28. ISSN: 0931-4202.
Descriptors: animal behavior, abnormal behavior, captivity, feeding, structural enrichment, well-being, zoos, meeting abstract.
Notes: 4th International Symposium on Physiology and Behaviour of Wild and Zoo Animals, Berlin, Germany; September 29-October 2, 2002.
Campbell, J.L., K.M. Glenn, B. Grossi, and J.H. Eisemann (2001). Use of local North Carolina browse species to supplement the diet of a captive colony of folivorous primates (Propithecus sp.). Zoo Biology 20(6): 447-461. ISSN: 0733-3188.
NAL Call Number: QL77.5.Z6
Descriptors: lemurs, Indriidae, browse plants, liquid ambarstyraciflua, chemical composition, fiber content, nitrogen content, voluntary intake, dry matter, laboratory animals, seasonal variation.
Fitch Snyder, H. and H. Schulze (2001). Management of Lorises in Captivity: A Husbandry Manual for Asian Lorisines (Nycticebus and Loris Ssp.), Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species (CRES), Zoological Society of San Diego: San Diego, California, [Online]
Online: http://www.loris-conservation.org/database/captive_care/manual/
Abstract: This online manual is available to read in html or pdf format and is intended to provide basic husbandry guidelines for loris managers, caretakers and veterinarians. There are chapters containing information on taxonomy, behavior, reproduction, nutrition, infant care, health, and habitat design. Information on enrichment is found in the chapter on habitat design. A list of references is also provided.
Descriptors: pygmy loris, taxonomy, environmental enrichment, habitat design, captive management, species survival plan (SSP).
Grams, K. and J. Roletto (2001). Fabricated trees. Animal Keepers' Forum 28(2): 58-60. ISSN: 0164-9531.
NAL Call Number: QL77.5.A54
Descriptors: parrots, small primates, lemurs, artificial trees in animal exhibits, tools, building enrichment items.
Henton, R. (2000). The lifestyle of the loris: An investigation into the activity and husbandry of pygmy slow lorises (Nycticebus pygmaeus) at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park. In: Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Symposium on Zoo Research, July 6, 2000-July 7, 2000, Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, Paignton, Denton, UK, Federation of Zoological Gardens of Great Britain and Ireland: London, UK, p. 43-46.
Online: http://www.biaza.org.uk/resources/library/images/ARSP2.pdf
Descriptors: Lorisinae, pygmy slow loris, Nycticebus pygmaeus, reverse lighting programs, nocturnal housing in zoos, enclosure modifications, diet, activity budget differences between wild and captive animals, light measurements.
Hosey, G.R. (2000). A glimpse into the lemur mind. In: Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Symposium on Zoo Research, July 6, 2000-July 7, 2000, , July 6-7, 2000, Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, Paignton, Devon, UK, Federation of Zoological Gardens of Great Britain and Ireland: London, UK, p. 5-10.
Online: http://www.biaza.org.uk/resources/library/images/ARSP2.pdf
Descriptors: lemurs, learning and cognition, effects of separation, research and experimentation, research performed in zoos, novel behaviors.
Hughes, V.L. and D.J. Price. (2000). Black and white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata variegata) at Shaldon Zoo. Can environmental enrichment affect their behaviour? In: Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Symposium on Zoo Research, July 6, 2000-July 7, 2000, Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, Paignton, Devon, UK, Federation of Zoological Gardens of Great Britain and Ireland: London, UK, p. 47-52.
Online: http://www.biaza.org.uk/resources/library/images/ARSP2.pdf
Descriptors: Varecia variegata variegata, black and white ruffed lemurs, zoo settings, behavioral observations, foraging device, enrichment device based on natural foraging postures, effect of enrichment on behavior of group housed animals, Shaldon Zoo, England.
Hutchings, K. and H. Mitchell. (2003). A preliminary investigation of olfactory enrichment for captive ruffed lemurs. In: Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Symposium on Zoo Research, July 7-8, 2003, Marwell Zoological Park, Federation of Zoological Gardens of Great Britain and Ireland: London, England, p. 288.
Descriptors: Varecia variegata variegata, role of olfaction in social interactions, olfactory enrichment, Marwell Zoological Park, animal behavior, scent-marked objects, novel scents.
Kerridge, F.J. (2005). Environmental enrichment to address behavioral differences between wild and captive black-and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata). American Journal of Primatology 66(1): 71-84. ISSN: 0275-2565.
NAL Call Number: QL737.P9A5
Abstract: I compared the behaviors of wild Varecia variegata living in a Malagasy rain forest with those of caged groups living in zoos in the United Kingdom in order to design environmental enrichment to encourage more natural behaviors. Comparisons were made between wild and captive animals in terms of activity budgets (instantaneously sampled at 1-min intervals) and social and solitary behaviors, which were continuously recorded for focal individuals. I followed the same sampling protocol during behavioral enrichment experiments, with additional monitoring of the amount and type of food consumed, and with more detailed observations of feeding behavior. No significant differences were found in resting or moving between wild and captive V. variegata. However, captive V. variegata spent more time on self-grooming and social behaviors, and less time feeding than wild V. variegata. There was also a lack of manual manipulation of food items. Behavioral enrichment experiments were carried out in which whole rather than chopped fruit was provided and presented in a more naturalistic manner. With this method of dietary presentation, manual manipulation of dietary items increased. Time spent feeding also increased significantly. Captive conservation breeding programs should not be wholly concerned with maintaining a diverse gene pool-they should also be concerned with conserving species-typical behaviors, especially if they are to produce behaviorally intact captive animals that can be reintroduced to the wild with minimal training, financial resources, and loss of individuals.
Descriptors: animal behavior, Lemuridae, motor activity, feeding behavior, activity budget differences between wild and captive animals, more time spent self-grooming and social behavior in captive animals, conserving species-typical behavior for reintroductions, Madagascar, zoo environments compared to the wild, Varecia variegata, ruffed lemurs.
Perbellini, R., D. Grassi, E. Caltran, E. Baistrocchi, and M. Turchetto (2002). Effects of nutrition enrichment on the activity of a group of red ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata rubra). Advances in Ethology 37: 62. ISSN: 0931-4202.
Descriptors: lemurs, aggression, dominance hierarchy, feeding and grooming behavior, nutritional enrichment, social interactions, meeting abstract.
Notes: 4th International Symposium on Physiology and Behaviour of Wild and Zoo Animals, Berlin, Germany; September 29-October 2, 2002.
Schaefer, M.S. and L.T. Nash (2004). Cage enrichment for galagos: A cautionary tale. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 43(1): 1-4. ISSN: 0023-6861.
Online: http://www.brown.edu/Research/Primate/lpn43-1.html
Descriptors: Galago senegalensis braccatus, housing techniques, cage enrichment, animal behavior.
Sha, J.C.M. and C. Agoramoorthy (2004). Husbandry and enrichment spectral tarsiers (Tarsius spectrum) in captivity. Folia Primatologica 75(Suppl. 1): 213. ISSN: 0015-5713.
NAL Call Number: QL737.P9F6
Descriptors: T. spectrum, animal welfare, environmental enrichment, meeting abstract.
Tarou, L.R., M.A. Bloomsmith, and T.L. Maple (2005). Survey of stereotypic behavior in prosimians. American Journal of Primatology 65(2): 181-196. ISSN: 0275-2565.
NAL Call Number: QL737.P9A5
Abstract: Captive animals have been observed to perform a variety of stereotypic behaviors. However, little is known about stereotypic behavior in prosimians. We sent surveys to 96 AZA-accredited institutions to examine stereotypic behavior in these primates. Forty-eight surveys were returned, providing information on 440 individuals of 10 genera. According to the responses, 13.2% of the prosimians surveyed exhibited some form of stereotypic behavior. Pacing was the most common behavior. A logistic regression was used to examine intrinsic characteristics that might influence the performance of stereotypic behavior. The genus of the prosimian was a significant predictor of stereotypic behavior. Individuals of the genus Varecia and Microcebus were more likely to engage in stereotypic behavior than members of the other genera. Rearing history, age, and sex were not significant predictors of stereotypic behavior. To examine the influence of extrinsic variables on stereotypic behavior, we transformed the data into the percentage of individuals within the enclosure that were reported to exhibit stereotypic behavior, and analyzed them at the enclosure level using a general linear model (GLM) analysis of variance (ANOVA). The only environmental variable that significantly predicted stereotypic behavior was the frequency with which enrichment was provided. Frequent enrichment was provided to those exhibits with a higher percentage of prosimians that engaged in stereotypic behavior. The results of this survey suggest that stereotypic behavior in prosimians may be associated with intrinsic factors (i.e., individual or genus differences) in addition to extrinsic factors related to housing. This knowledge may be helpful in identifying the causes of and effective treatments for stereotypic behavior in prosimians.
Descriptors: abnormal behavior, pacing, stereotypies, Varecia sp., Microcebus sp., intrinsic factors, zoo animals, genus differences, housing and individual effects on stereotypic behavior, captive prosimians.
Thwaite, J. (2000). Environmental enrichment research into the effects of different feeding devices upon the behaviour of a group of red-ruffed lemurs. In: Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Symposium on Zoo Research, July 6, 2000-July 7, 2000, Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, Paignton, Denton, UK, Federation of Zoological Gardens of Great Britain and Ireland: London, UK, p. 121.
Online: http://www.biaza.org.uk/resources/library/images/ARSP2.pdf
Descriptors: red-ruffed lemurs, husbandry of captive animals, zoo settings, feeding devices, effects of enrichment on feeding behavior, using check sheets and brief observations to quantify behavior, Chester Zoo, UK, meeting abstract.
Vasey, N. (2005). New developments in the behavioral ecology and conservation of ruffed lemurs (Varecia sp.). American Journal of Primatology 66(1): 1-6. ISSN: 0275-2565.
NAL Call Number: QL737.P9A5
Abstract: The papers in this issue were presented at a symposium during the 25th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in June 2002. This symposium brought together many of the scientists who have contributed to our knowledge of ruffed lemur ecology, behavior, and conservation in the past decade. One objective was to share and compare key findings about ruffed lemurs (Varecia) resulting from long-term field studies at various sites in Madagascar. A second objective was to cross-fertilize work being done in the wild with that being done in captivity, with the aim of advancing a common conservation mission for this critically endangered genus. Varecia is a prime candidate for synthetic assessments such as these because it has now been studied in both the northern and southern reaches of its geographic range, and has also been the focus of a captive-to-wild reinforcement project. The papers in this issue contribute to 1) the establishment of reference ranges for a suite of physiological parameters in healthy wild Varecia populations; 2) environmental enrichment aimed at preserving species-typical behaviors in captivity; 3) an understanding of how forest structure, floristic composition, and fruiting phenology in areas with differing disturbance histories correlate with the natural occurrence and abundance of Varecia; 4) primary knowledge concerning dominance relations between the sexes and group leadership in wild Varecia; and 5) primary knowledge concerning how wild Varecia, with their unusual reproductive pattern and heavy reliance on fruit, modulate their activity budgets seasonally and in tandem with reproductive stages.
Descriptors: introductory paper to journal issue, wild populations, captive wild animals, environmental enrichment use to preserve species-typical behaviors, forest structure, dominance relations between lemurs, Madagascar, ruffed lemurs, Varecia, Lemuridae physiology, conservation of natural resources, understanding natural ecosystems.
Watson, S., A. Gray, E. Taylor, B. Johnson, B. Fahm, a. Mcgee, W. Bingham, and P. Banks (2002). Efficacy of environmental enrichment for Garnett's bushbaby (Otolemur garnettii). American Journal of Primatology 57(Suppl. 1): 38-39. ISSN: 0275-2565.
NAL Call Number: QL737.P9A5
Descriptors: manipulanda, vertical space, enriched environment, animal behavior, U.S. Animal Welfare Act, meeting abstract.
Notes: 25th Annual Meeting of The American Society of Primatologists, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; June 1-4, 2002.