Understanding how primates interact socially is important for both their well-being and scientific studies. A new study conducted by Dr. Amanda Murti, Clive Wilson, Antonio Pemberton, Dr. Tatiana Corey, Dr. Loveness Dzikiti, Dr. John Elsworth, and Dr. Calvin Carpenter from Virscio Inc. explores how African green monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) can successfully live together in same-sex pairs and groups of three. Their research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Veterinary Sciences, provides helpful insights into the best ways to create a comfortable and healthy environment for these animals in research facilities.
African green monkeys are being used more frequently in biomedical studies, which focus on understanding diseases and developing medical treatments, because there is a shortage of the non-human primates that researchers have traditionally relied on. Since these monkeys are naturally social, it is important to ensure they live in groups rather than in isolation, which can affect their physical and mental health. Dr. Murti and her team developed a method to match monkeys based on factors such as age, weight, and cage size to find the most compatible social partners. They discovered that both male and female monkeys did well when housed in pairs, and female monkeys were even more likely to succeed when living in a group of three compared to males.
One of the key takeaways from this study is that social housing has a direct and positive impact on the well-being of the monkeys. Groups that successfully bonded showed more friendly behaviors, such as grooming each other, and appeared to be in better overall health. Dr. Murti’s study revealed that almost all female monkeys adapted well to living in pairs or trios, while male pairs were slightly less successful. Groups of three male monkeys were the most challenging to manage, which suggests that extra care is needed when introducing them to one another.
The study also found that particularly for males, who can show territorial behavior, providing larger living spaces and introducing monkeys in an enclosure that is new to all in the group during the initial socialization period helped improve their chances of forming stable groups. “Allowing monkeys to live with others is a crucial way to keep them happy and healthy, and our study shows that carefully planned introductions can greatly improve how well they get along,” said Dr. Murti. The team also observed that while some minor conflicts arose early on, they usually resolved quickly as the monkeys established their social hierarchy—the ranking system within a group that determines dominance and interactions.
Dr. Murti and her colleagues’ findings highlight the importance of using a structured and research-based approach to social housing, meaning methods that are carefully planned and supported by scientific evidence in scientific settings. Ensuring that monkeys have suitable social environments not only improves their quality of life but also leads to more reliable research outcomes. As African green monkeys continue to play a growing role in biomedical studies, applying these best practices will be essential for maintaining ethical and effective research conditions.
Journal Reference
Murti, A.M.; Wilson, C.C.; Pemberton, A.F.; Corey, T.M.; Dzikiti, L.N.; Elsworth, J.D.; Carpenter, C.B. “Factors That Determine Successful Social Housing of African Green Monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) in Same-Sex Pairs and Trios.” Veterinary Sciences, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11120667
Image Reference
tjabeljan, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
About the Author
Dr. Amanda Murti is a Research Veterinarian specializing in non-human primates. She has a special interest in non-human primate behavior and creating strong lasting social groups. “The Caribbean african green monkey is such a unique species and a true priveledge to work with. My favorite part of my job is seeing a successful social group start to bond and display natural affiliative behaviors,” said Dr. Murti. She also has a special interest in reproductive physiology, neurobiology and conservation medicine.
Dr. Murti received her DVM from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, and her clinical training at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. In addition to laboratory animal medicine, she has a background in endangered species research, endocrinology, and small animal and exotics emergency/critical care medicine.
