Influence of visitors on the behaviour of Yellow-breasted capuchins Sapajus xanthosternos at Belo Horizonte Zoo (BH Zoo), Brazil

Abstract

Visitors, especially in large noisy crowds, have the potential to influence the life of animals in zoological institutions, the so-called visitor effect. This study aimed to evaluate the effect visitors had on four Yellow-breasted capuchins Sapajus xanthosternos at Belo Horizonte Zoo (BH Zoo), Brazil. The study comprised 60 hours of behavioural observations: 30 with and 30 without visitors in front of the monkeys’ enclosure. Data on the behaviour of capuchins were collected from March to June 2011 using focal sampling with instantaneous recording of behaviour every minute. Results showed that the responses to visitors varied between individuals for almost all behaviours; undesirable behaviours decreased for two capuchins when public were present but increased for one female. Behaviours such as ‘self-grooming’ and ‘social interactions’ (e.g. fights, allogrooming) increased, showing that the behaviour of the capuchins altered in the presence of visitors. At BH Zoo the public often interacted with the capuchins. Whether the visitors were acting as enrichment factors or stressors for the capuchins is inconclusive, because the overall behavioural responses of the capuchins varied. In conclusion, to reduce visitor-induced stress responses for the individuals affected by them, a public-education programme, to reduce human–capuchin interactions, should be introduced at BH Zoo.