Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T10:58:09.620Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Humane Control of Captive Marmoset and Tamarin Populations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

A W Sainsbury*
Affiliation:
Veterinary Science Group, The Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

In zoo and laboratory colonies of marmosets and tamarins (Callitrichidae) there has been an increasing need to adopt breeding control methods. In zoos, this need has been driven by a growth in populations. In laboratories, increased interest in control options has followed from the requirement to improve welfare by housing potential breeding animals together. Progestagen-containing contraceptive implants or depot-injections, prostaglandin injection regimes, vasectomy and various group-management methods have been used to control reproduction in marmoset and tamarin colonies. There is a need for advances in control techniques suitable for use in zoos. In the meantime, a policy of selective euthanasia or the use of vasectomy are recommended as control methods. In laboratories, although improved control methods are required, a number of techniques have been found to be satisfactory. When there are surplus marmosets and tamarins, the alternatives for their utilization include movement to other colonies, use for studies within zoos or in laboratories, sale to private keepers or euthanasia. Selling these animals privately is not recommended, except in exceptional circumstances. The preferred control option will differ in each circumstance and guidance is given in this paper.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1997 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

Abbott, D H 1984 Behavioural and physiological suppression of fertility in subordinate marmoset monkeys. American Journal of Primatology 6: 169186CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Asa, C S 1993 Minutes of the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria Contraceptive Committee Mid-Year Meeting, St Louis, USAGoogle Scholar
Asa, C S and Porton, I 1990 Primate contraception methods in use and in development. Proceedings of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians pp 263264. American Association of Zoo Veterinarians: Philadelphia, USAGoogle Scholar
Bailou, J 1985 Golden lion tamarin contraceptive implant program - general information. National Zoological Park: Washington DC, USAGoogle Scholar
Bailou, J and Kleiman, D G 1989 Species survival plan report: Golden lion tamarin. American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria Newsletter 30(2): 67Google Scholar
Barrett, J, Abbott, D H and George, L M 1993 Sensory cues and the suppression of reproduction in subordinate female marmoset monkeys, Callithrix jacchus. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 97: 301310Google ScholarPubMed
Box, H O 1991 Training for life after release: simian primates as examples. In: Gipps, J H W (ed) Beyond Captive Breeding. Symposium of Zoological Society of London (62) pp 111123. Clarendon Press: Oxford, UKGoogle Scholar
Burt, D A and Plant, M 1983 Observations on marmoset breeding at Fisons. Animal Technology 34: 2936Google Scholar
Cleveland, J and Snowdon, C T 1984 Social development during the first twenty weeks of life in the Cotton- top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus). Animal Behaviour 32: 432444CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Colley, R 1990 Cotton-top tamarin. Proceedings of a Joint Management of Species Group Meeting, Edinburgh Zoo, UKGoogle Scholar
Colley, R 1991 British Isles and Ireland: Regional Studbook Cotton-Top Tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) 5. Federation of Zoological Gardens of Great Britain and Ireland: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Colley, R 1993 Cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) - conservation and captivity. In: Colley, R (ed) Marmosets and Tamarins in Captivity: Proceedings of the Seventeenth Annual Symposium of the Association of British Wild Animal Keepers. Association of British Wild Animal Keepers: Bristol, UKGoogle Scholar
Feistner, A T C and Evans, S 1992 Research in zoos: prospects for primatology. Proceedings of the Fourteenth Congress of the International Primatological Society p202. International Primatology Society: Strasbourg, FranceGoogle Scholar
Greenwood, A G 1993 Contraception in zoo animals. Zoo Federation News 65: 3036Google Scholar
Harcourt, A H 1987 Options for unwanted or confiscated primates. Primate Conservation 8: 111113Google Scholar
Kirkpatrick, J F and Turner, J W 1991 Reversible contraception in nondomestic animals. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 22: 392408Google Scholar
Lacy, R C 1991 Zoos and the surplus problem: an alternative solution. Zoo Biology 10: 293297CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morris, T H and David, C L 1993 Illustrated guide to surgical technique for vasectomy of the common marmoset. Laboratory Animals 27: 381384CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Munson, L 1993 Adverse effects of contraceptives in carnivores, primates and ungulates. In: Junge R E (ed) Proceedings of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians pp 284-288. St Louis, USAGoogle Scholar
Munson, L and Mason, R J 1991 Pathological findings in the uteri of progestogen-implanted exotic felids. Proceedings of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians pp 311312. American Association of Zoo Veterinarians: Philadelphia, USAGoogle Scholar
Porteous, I, Mundy, N I and Grail, C In press. Use of intra-uterine devices as a means of contraception in a colony of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Journal of Medical PrimatologyGoogle Scholar
Price, E C and Evans, S 1991 Contraceptive implants in callitrichids: a call for information. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 30: 19Google Scholar
Primate Society of Great Britain 1988 Surplus individuals of endangered species of primates in captivity. Primate Eye 36: 1718Google Scholar
Pryce, C R, Jurke, M, Shaw, H J, Sandmeier, I G and Doebeli, M 1993 Determination of ovarian cycle in Goeldi’s monkey (Callimico goeldii) via the measurement of steroids and peptides in plasma and urine. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 99: 427435CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Porton, I, Asa, C and Baker, A 1992 Survey results on the use of birth control methods in primates and carnivores in North American zoos. American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria, Contraceptive Task Force, St Louis Zoological Park, USAGoogle Scholar
Richter, C B 1984 Biology and diseases of Callitrichidae. In: Fox, J G, Cohen, B J and Loew, F M (eds) Laboratory Animal Medicine pp 353383. Academic Press: Orlando, USAGoogle Scholar
Rothe, H 1978 Sub-grouping behaviour in captive Callithrix jacchus families: a preliminary investigation. In: Rothe, H, Wolters, H J and Hearn, J P (eds) Biology and Behaviour of Marmosets pp 233257. Eigenverlag H Rothe: Gottingen, GermanyGoogle Scholar
Sainsbury, A W 1987 Reducing infant mortality in marmosets. In: Scott P W and Kirkwood J K (eds) Rearing Young Wild Animals in Captivity - Proceedings of a British Veterinary Zoological Society pp 5565. Vetark Publications: Winchester, UKGoogle Scholar
Sainsbury, A W 1994 The relationship between husbandry, behavioural monitoring and disease prevention: examples from a colony of marmosets. Proceedings of the Fifth Symposium of the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Association pp 57-60. Royal Society of Medicine Press: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Sacco, A G 1987 Zona pellucida - candidate antigen for contraceptive vaccine development. American Journal of Reproductive Immunology and Microbiology 15: 122130Google ScholarPubMed
Snowdon, C T and Savage, A 1989 Psychological well-being of captive primates: general considerations and examples from callitrichids In: Segal E F (ed) Housing, Care and Psychological Well-Being of Captive and Laboratory Primates pp 7588. Noyes Publications: New Jersey, USAGoogle Scholar
Stevenson, M F and Rylands, A B 1988 The marmosets, genus Callithrix. In: Mittermeier, R A, Rylands, A B, Coimbra-Filho, A F and da Fonseca, GAB (eds) Ecology and Behaviour of Neotropical Primates, Volume 2 pp 131222. World Wildlife Fund: Washington DC, USAGoogle Scholar
Summers, P M, Wennick, C J and Hodges, J K 1985 Cloprostenol-induced luteolysis in marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus). Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 73: 133138CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tardif, SD, Richter, C B and Carson, R 1984 Effects of sibling rearing experience on future reproductive success in two species of Callitrichidae. American Journal of Primatology 6: 377380CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed