For the major research project of my masters program: Environmental Biology – Behavioural Ecology, I studied Barbary macaques, a primate species that inhabits the mountainous regions of northern africa. I compared a zoo-reared population that was housed at the Apenheul with rescued groups (composed by humans) housed at the exotic animal rehabilitation center Stichting AAP. The zoo-reared population lived in a relatively stable social group and had space to display their natural behaviour, whereas the rescued population live in fragmented small groups and were confined to smaller cages. In addition, individuals had varied backgrounds where they may have been subjected to maternal/social deprivation and various kinds of abuse. Using behavioural observation, I compared the occurence of abnormal and stress-related behaviour in the zoo-reared and rescued population.

My experience during this research project has taught me a lot about the construction of an ethogram, various kinds of observational techniques and the challenges associated with keeping animals in captivity. It also taught me to be flexible in your efforts, since (after considerable time invested) my initital research questions could not be answered due to a lack of available information. 

Besides rescuing exotic animals from illegal ownership, Stichting Aap works to improve European legislation on animal welfare. Want to know more about Stichting Aap, click on the logo below for more information.