Effects of visitors and cage changes on the behaviors of mangabeys

Abstract

Abstract Three groups of golden‐bellied mangabeys were studied to determine the effects of visitors and cage changes on their aggressive displays, grooming and sexual behavior, and play. Assessments of changes in behavior were made by comparing categorized observer comments. Animals moved to cages having more visitors increased their aggressive displays toward people, decreased their aggressive displays toward other species in neighboring cages, and increased their withingroup aggression. On the other hand, grooming, sexual behavior, and play increased after cage changes regardless of numbers of visitors. The view that it is the pattern of behavior changes in enrichment that is important in assessment of attempted enrichment was supported. Aggressive and affiliative behaviors are affected quite differently by different environmental stimuli in the zoo.