PROMOTING CHIMPANZEE WELL BEING THROUGH APPLIED RESEARCH

本研究申请是为了响应计划公告 “国家黑猩猩育种和研究计划”，是一个同伴， 德克萨斯大学的育种计划建议，M。D. 安德森癌症中心，科学园，兽医科学系。 这项行为研究计划的长期目标是改善 对圈养的黑猩猩进行定量的护理和管理， 应用行为问题的研究。这些研究旨在 与黑猩猩繁殖计划密切合作完成 这些研究解决了对蜂群行为至关重要的问题， 未来五年的管理。拟议的行为研究 在环境改善的四个方面取得了新的进展， 黑猩猩的研究，这是以前没有提到过的。(1)人-黑猩猩 相互作用将被评估为环境富集， 强化训练作为互动机制。的潜力 培训以减轻与普通动物护理相关的压力， 管理程序将使用生理和行为测试 对黑猩猩和照顾它们的人类的压力的测量。（二） 认知刺激、可预测性和控制在 将测量黑猩猩的富集情况。计算机化的问题将被设置 让黑猩猩按照自己的节奏学习。与福祉有关的问题 动物护理常规的可预测性和增加的控制 将研究环境刺激。(3)行为管理 科学家们将尝试使用各种技术来减轻肥胖黑猩猩的体重， 同时保持他们的健康。（4）管理问题 社会行为，而殖民地生产目标正在减少（如 将对这些问题进行研究。婴儿数量减少的影响 将对年轻母亲进行测量，这些母亲在不同的环境中长大， 婴儿的暴露量。一种新黑猩猩的形成过程 小组将被记录，包括确定是否初始反应， 预测它们未来的关系。在 此外，一个项目从上一个赠款期继续将是 完成，比较四个国家的年轻黑猩猩的行为发展， 不同的社会环境，以确定最佳的社会化策略。 本申请中提出的研究是客观的、定量的 对改进圈养幼犬照料和生产方法的评价 这些研究对于开发有效的 调节黑猩猩健康和满足社会需求的标准 改善实验室灵长类动物护理的愿望。

This research application is in response to the Program Announcement "National Chimpanzee Breeding nd Research Program", and is a companion to the proposal for the breeding program from The University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Science Park, Department of Veterinary Sciences. The long-term objective of this behavioral research program is to improve the care and management of captive chimpanzees by conducting quantitative studies of applied behavioral issues. These studies are designed and will be completed in close collaboration with the chimpanzee breeding program and these studies address issues that are critical to colony behavioral management in the next five years. The proposed behavioral research incorporates novel advances in four areas of environmental improvement for chimpanzees that have not previously been addressed. (1) Human-chimpanzee interactions will be evaluated as environmental enrichment using positive reinforcement training as the mechanism of interaction. The potential for training to reduce stress associated with a common animal care and management procedure will be tested using physiological and behavioral measures of stress for the chimpanzees and their human care givers. (2) The roles of cognitive stimulation, predictability and control in chimpanzee enrichment will be measured. Computerized problems will be set for the chimpanzees to learn at their own pace. Well-being issues related to the predictable nature of animal care routines and increased control over environmental stimulation will be studied. (3) Behavioral management techniques will be used to try to reduce the weight of obese chimpanzees, while maintaining their well-being. And (4) Problems related to managing social behavior while colony production goals are being reduced (as mandated from NCRR) will be studied. The impact of having fewer infants in groups will be measured on young mothers who were reared with differing amounts of exposure to infants. A process for forming new chimpanzee groups will be documented, including determining whether initial reactions between pairs of chimpanzees predict their future relationships. In addition, one project continuing from the last grant period will be completed, comparing behavioral development of young chimpanzees in four different social settings to determine optimal socialization strategies. The studies proposed in this application are objective, quantitative evaluations of methods to improve the care and production of captive chimpanzees.These investigations are essential to developing valid criteria for regulating chimpanzee well-being and meeting the societal desire for improving the care of laboratory primates.