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Project Title: Evaluating the Process of Conducting Chimpanzees Introductions into Captive Groups.
Summary: Supportive social relationships are crucial for humans and many animal species, influencing their survival, well-being, and overall quality of life. Chimpanzees, one of our closest living relatives, use social relationships to facilitate cooperation to protect and access resources, with various health and fitness benefits. However, when living under human care e.g. in zoos and sanctuaries, the social structure of chimpanzee groups is heavily dependent on the husbandry and management of the facility. For species management and conservation purposes, chimpanzees are transferred between locations to existing or newly established groups. These transfers have potential to disrupt social groups living under managed care in ways that could not match species-typical social introduction processes. There is limited understanding of the social interactions during and following human managed primate introductions, meaning there are potentially increased risks to the health and well-being of the chimpanzees involved. My proposed research will investigate the existing guidelines for introducing chimpanzees into captive social groups, with the aim to use observational data of social interactions and qualitative data of keeper experiences to inform conservation strategies for the successful introduction of chimpanzees. I intend to support the development of existing guidelines by incorporating more behavioural and social variables in assessments of introductions under human care. This will help ensure the best possible welfare for managed chimpanzees, especially during and following their introduction into social groups.
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