ABSTRACT
The role of veterinarians in the behavioral management of nonhuman primates (NHPs) used in research has both legal and historical precedent. The professional training received by the typical laboratory animal veterinarian has several built-in features that may serve to create knowledge gaps when it comes to primate behavior or its importance. For areas of overlap between veterinary medicine and behavioral management, it is useful for veterinarians to familiarize themselves, and update themselves, with the behavior literature, beyond the typical laboratory animal medicine resources. Behavioral specialists obviously must also play a role in ensuring cooperation with the veterinarians in their facilities. Like behavioral scientists, veterinarians are trained to give priority to evidence-based solutions, but as discussed, veterinarians may not necessarily be aware of the evidence supporting certain behavioral management solutions. The treatment of abnormal or undesired behaviors is an area of interaction where veterinary medicine and behavioral management each have their own distinct approaches.
