Analysis of the influence of feed environmental enrichment on the behavior of the common squirrel monkeys Saimiri sciureus (Linnaeus, 1758) in the zoo

Veselova N. A., Bogorodskaya E. Y.

In this work we studied the behavior of the common squirrel monkeys Saimiri sciureus (Linnaeus, 1758) using various methods of feed environmental enrichment in the Moscow Zoo. The animals were offered three types of feeders: «the house», «the basket» and paper balls. Live feed insects were placed in each of the feeders. It was shown that the use of environmental enrichment increases the level of research activity, grooming and eating insects of common squirrel monkeys.

Keywords:common squirrel monkey Saimiri sciureus, zoo, environmental enrichment, behavior, animal welfare, zooculture.