The impacts of prior life experiences on the welfare of captive primates

Abstract

Primates rescued from adverse pasts are often at risk of experiencing poor welfare outcomes, yet the underlying factors influencing these outcomes are not fully understood. Current research suggests that both specific early life experiences and individual personality traits play a significant role in shaping welfare, but there is limited published literature examining these relationships in detail, especially in rescued populations. To address this gap, I developed a bespoke welfare assessment tailored specifically to rescued primates. This welfare tool was designed to capture the multifaceted aspects of welfare, based on the widely recognised Five Domains of welfare framework, which includes the domains of behaviour, nutrition, environment, health, and mental state. Alongside this, I used caregiver ratings of primate personality using the Hominoid Personality Questionnaire (HPQ). Furthermore, I explored the utility of Qualitative Behavioural Assessment (QBA) to practically assess the primates’ mental domain of welfare. This thesis investigated the complex relationships between early life factors, personality, and welfare outcomes in a sample of rescued primates. The results demonstrate that the bespoke welfare assessment was both reliable across raters and effective in providing a holistic view of each primate’s welfare. My findings also indicate that primates with certain adverse early life experiences are more likely to develop personality traits associated with poorer welfare outcomes, such as higher levels of anxiety. Furthermore, my results suggest that QBA can be used to indicate positive emotions in primates. In conclusion, this thesis makes valuable contributions to the field of primate welfare by providing new insights into the ways early life experiences and personality interact to affect welfare outcomes in rescued primates, and the suggestion of a practical assessment of the mental domain of welfare using QBA. These findings not only deepen our understanding of primate welfare but also have broader implications for improving welfare practices across various species and contexts, particularly in rescue and rehabilitation settings where animals are recovering from adverse experiences.

Date of Award	7 Mar 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Winchester
Supervisor	Lisa Riley (Supervisor) & Liam Satchell (Supervisor)