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Species: Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx)

Use: This study was done to see if zoo visitors, general environment, or conspecifics had any influence on our male mandrill self – mutilating.

Authors: Hilda Tresz, The Phoenix Zoo

Methods: Focal animalsampling, utilizing fixed scheduled format with five minute timeframes

Publications/Presentations: N/A

Location of the focal animal

Inside: Animal is located in night house

Outside: Animal is located on exhibit

On grotto: Animal is located on concrete pad on exhibit

Out of view: Animal is not visible for observer

Visitor information

Number of visitors: The number of visitors at time observation noted

Loud people/school groups: Groups of 10 or more individuals speaking in unison and/or above normal conversational tones

Positive behaviors

Approach: Conspecific approaching focal animal within 5 feet, but doesn’t initiate social interaction

Receptive: Focal animal is responding positively (no sign of aggression) to conspecific’s initiated behavior

Smile: A component of greeting behavior. Animal is twisting its head in a figure 8, teeth are not fully exposed

Groom: Cleaning the hair or skin by removing debris with hand or teeth. Behavior is subdivided to:

• Self grooming
• Grooming other
• Receive groom
• Mutual groom

Play: Animal is actively engaged in for amusement or recreation. Behavior is subdivided to:

• Solitary play: animal does not include conspecifics in play activity
• Social play: animal engaged with conspecific’s in play activity

Negative behaviors:

Distant from others: Animal is 5 feet away or more from conspecific’s. Behavior is subdivided to:

• Animal distanced itself from conspecifics
• Conspecific distanced itself from focal animal

Decline of interaction: Animal walks away, looks away from conspecifics or turns his back to others.

Threat: Animal stands up quadrupedally with back arched, eyelids raised and /or striking the ground or an object.

Chase: Animal lunges toward and follows rapidly in order to catch another conspecific

Self mutilation: Animal bites on body part(s)

Sexual behaviors:

Present: Conspecific approaches and orient genitalia in the focal animal’s line of vision for copulation

Investigate: Focal animal investigates female conspecific’s genitalia

Follow: Focal animal is following female conspecific trying the pursue her to breed

Initiate copulation: Focal animal approaches female and begins caressing; observed from this point to penetration

Copulate: Focal animal mounts and thrusts female conspecific

Masturbate: Self–stimulation of genital area

Other behavior:

Vocalize: Utterance of vocal sounds

Forage: Animal is wandering in search of food or consuming food

Drink: Animal takes liquid into the mouth and swallows

Walk: Animal is moving slowly over a surface quadrupedally at a pace slower than running.

Rest: Animal is cease motion, activity and appears is peace or ease. The behavior is subdivided to:

• Sitting
• Laying down
• Sitting and facing the wall
• Laying and facing the wall

HT.