Behavioral Management

In accordance with the 1985 amendment to the Animal Welfare Act (P.L. 99-198, The Food Security Act), the Plan for Environmental Enhancement and Behavioral Management for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette New Iberia Research Center is designed to promote the psychological well-being of nonhuman primates (NHPs). The enhancement procedures have been developed to address the social needs of each species and to provide enrichment in order to encourage and enable the expression of species-appropriate behaviors. Behavioral management techniques are employed to identify behavioral pathology and implement treatment and prevention strategies.

The aim of this plan is to provide an environment suitable for the expression of a broad range of species-appropriate behaviors, including social interactions, locomotion, foraging, and manipulation. It also seeks to minimize negative and self-injurious behaviors, such as excessive aggression, self-wounding, and stereotypic behaviors. The plan seeks to avoid stressful events such as unpredictable activities associated with husbandry and experimental procedures. The Plan seeks to provide the animals with an enriched environment that enhances tactile, visual, olfactory, auditory, and gustatory sensations. The environment will allow each animal the opportunity to experience novelty and exert some degree of control as appropriate for that species. Finally, the plan will promote species-appropriate development.