ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a “big picture” view of the value of implementing behavioral management programs for animals in captivity, especially those that are likely to be involved in scientific research. It strongly emphasizes and includes many examples involving nonhuman primates. Behavioral management can be defined in a reasonably straightforward way as: management strategies that are designed to positively affect the behavior of captive animals. In general, behavioral management strategies are designed to provide captive animals with opportunities to safely engage in species-appropriate behaviors and limit their opportunities to engage in abnormal behaviors. One of the easiest ways to justify efforts/costs associated with enhancing the behavioral management of research animals is to focus on the ways in which behavioral management practices can yield better animal models.
