The Interface Between Veterinary and Behavioral Management of Chimpanzees (<i>Pan troglodytes</i>) in a United States Sanctuary Demonstrated by Two Clinical Cases

Chimp Haven is a private, nonprofit organization that serves as the largest chimpanzee sanctuary in the world. The National Institutes of Health supports the federal sanctuary system, which is operated by Chimp Haven, to provide lifetime care for chimpanzees who have retired from biomedical research...

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Main Authors: Raven Jackson, Rebekah Lewis, Amy Fultz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Veterinary Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/11/523
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author Raven Jackson
Rebekah Lewis
Amy Fultz
author_facet Raven Jackson
Rebekah Lewis
Amy Fultz
author_sort Raven Jackson
collection DOAJ
description Chimp Haven is a private, nonprofit organization that serves as the largest chimpanzee sanctuary in the world. The National Institutes of Health supports the federal sanctuary system, which is operated by Chimp Haven, to provide lifetime care for chimpanzees who have retired from biomedical research. Chimp Haven is home to over 300 chimpanzees, with a wide variety of individual health needs including infectious diseases. The chimpanzees live in large, mixed-sex social groups within corrals, multi-dimensional enclosures, and naturally forested habitats, which presents challenges for monitoring and balancing individual versus group needs. Primate veterinarians and animal behavior directors have an obligation to collaborate for the best possible health and welfare outcomes for the species in their care. This manuscript details how veterinarians and behavioral staff at Chimp Haven interface to enhance clinical management and improve chimpanzee welfare using two clinical cases to illustrate this relationship. This is accomplished through the development of individual care plans that include the utilization of welfare assessment metrics and positive reinforcement training programs collaboratively developed between the veterinarians and behaviorists to facilitate voluntary medical procedures without the need for social isolation. Specifically, welfare metrics such as monitoring chimpanzee wounding levels and severity, as well as targeted assessments, involve the input of both the veterinarians and behaviorists. Positive reinforcement training initiatives such as weight loss, heart health, and wound care also require the interface between the two disciplines. The authors aim to demonstrate that working together provides optimal levels of expert care for both the physical and mental health of the chimpanzees in our care.
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spelling doaj-art-2c93a99f9bba40e88494a5bacd9b734d2024-11-26T18:24:48ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812024-10-01111152310.3390/vetsci11110523The Interface Between Veterinary and Behavioral Management of Chimpanzees (<i>Pan troglodytes</i>) in a United States Sanctuary Demonstrated by Two Clinical CasesRaven Jackson0Rebekah Lewis1Amy Fultz2Chimp Haven, Keithville, LA 71047, USAChimp Haven, Keithville, LA 71047, USAChimp Haven, Keithville, LA 71047, USAChimp Haven is a private, nonprofit organization that serves as the largest chimpanzee sanctuary in the world. The National Institutes of Health supports the federal sanctuary system, which is operated by Chimp Haven, to provide lifetime care for chimpanzees who have retired from biomedical research. Chimp Haven is home to over 300 chimpanzees, with a wide variety of individual health needs including infectious diseases. The chimpanzees live in large, mixed-sex social groups within corrals, multi-dimensional enclosures, and naturally forested habitats, which presents challenges for monitoring and balancing individual versus group needs. Primate veterinarians and animal behavior directors have an obligation to collaborate for the best possible health and welfare outcomes for the species in their care. This manuscript details how veterinarians and behavioral staff at Chimp Haven interface to enhance clinical management and improve chimpanzee welfare using two clinical cases to illustrate this relationship. This is accomplished through the development of individual care plans that include the utilization of welfare assessment metrics and positive reinforcement training programs collaboratively developed between the veterinarians and behaviorists to facilitate voluntary medical procedures without the need for social isolation. Specifically, welfare metrics such as monitoring chimpanzee wounding levels and severity, as well as targeted assessments, involve the input of both the veterinarians and behaviorists. Positive reinforcement training initiatives such as weight loss, heart health, and wound care also require the interface between the two disciplines. The authors aim to demonstrate that working together provides optimal levels of expert care for both the physical and mental health of the chimpanzees in our care.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/11/523clinical carecase reportsbehavioral managementcollaborationwelfaremetrics
spellingShingle Raven Jackson
Rebekah Lewis
Amy Fultz
The Interface Between Veterinary and Behavioral Management of Chimpanzees (<i>Pan troglodytes</i>) in a United States Sanctuary Demonstrated by Two Clinical Cases
Veterinary Sciences
clinical care
case reports
behavioral management
collaboration
welfare
metrics
title The Interface Between Veterinary and Behavioral Management of Chimpanzees (<i>Pan troglodytes</i>) in a United States Sanctuary Demonstrated by Two Clinical Cases
title_full The Interface Between Veterinary and Behavioral Management of Chimpanzees (<i>Pan troglodytes</i>) in a United States Sanctuary Demonstrated by Two Clinical Cases
title_fullStr The Interface Between Veterinary and Behavioral Management of Chimpanzees (<i>Pan troglodytes</i>) in a United States Sanctuary Demonstrated by Two Clinical Cases
title_full_unstemmed The Interface Between Veterinary and Behavioral Management of Chimpanzees (<i>Pan troglodytes</i>) in a United States Sanctuary Demonstrated by Two Clinical Cases
title_short The Interface Between Veterinary and Behavioral Management of Chimpanzees (<i>Pan troglodytes</i>) in a United States Sanctuary Demonstrated by Two Clinical Cases
title_sort interface between veterinary and behavioral management of chimpanzees i pan troglodytes i in a united states sanctuary demonstrated by two clinical cases
topic clinical care
case reports
behavioral management
collaboration
welfare
metrics
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/11/523
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