The Captive
Care Working Party (CCWP) provides expert advice to interested parties
within and outside of the PSGB, and co-ordinates action, on matters
relating to the welfare of primates in laboratories and other captive
settings. The Working Party focuses on practical issues, deferring
discussion of the ethical issues associated with primate use to more
appropriate bodies. However, our organisation is committed to the
Three Rs of humane experimental technique:
- Replacement of animals with humane
alternatives;
- Reduction in the number of animals
used;
- Refinement to reduce to a minimum
the suffering experienced by the animals throughout their lives;
not just during experiments, but also as a result of the way they
are acquired, housed, cared for and transported.
The CCWP holds an annual meeting prior to
the PSGB's Winter Meeting, and meets at other times as necessary.
Contact between members is maintained through email. At the annual
meeting we review developments in laws and practice, issues and
news relating to captive primates. Typically, our review will include
changes to UK or European legislation; establishment or closing
of research facilities; and news from the zoo community. We produce
yearly reports and draft policy letters for PSGB Council.
Current areas of interest include:
- Acquisition and transport
- Housing and husbandry
- Training with positive reinforcement
techniques
- Weaning policy
- Management of breeding colonies
Membership of the CCWP is open to all members
of the PSGB but primarily is attractive to people with specialist
knowledge of, or a professional interest in, the care of primates
in captivity. Currently, membership comprises both researchers and
animal welfare representatives who have experience with a range
of primate species (New World monkeys, Old World monkeys, and apes)
in a variety of captive settings. One of the challenges facing the
CCWP is to form stronger links between all institutions housing
primates, particularly research facilities, zoos and rescue centres.
Relevant materials
Annual reports of CCWP
Captive Care Grants
**Applications now closed**
In addition, to the activities listed above, the Working Party administers the PSGB Captive Care Grants. These are awards, typically not exceeding £750, to assist research of benefit to primate welfare in captivity, and to assist education projects about captive primate welfare. Although the financial value of the grants is quite small, it should be remembered that approval from the PSGB is invaluable when applying for money from other sources.
Grants awarded (since
2009)
2009: Diana
Marsilio, 'The impact of browse and fruit consumption on regurgitation
and reingestion in captive western lowland gorillas (Gorilla
gorilla gorilla).
2009: Olivier Caillabet, 'A parasitological survey of semi-captive
drills (Mandrillus leucophaeus): Implications for reintroduction
to the wild.
Publications with support
of CCWP grants:
- Avanti Mallapur, Natalie Waran and Anindya Sinha
(2005) Factors influencing the behaviour and welfare of captive
lion-tailed macaques in Indian zoos. Applied Animal Behaviour
Science, Volume 91, Issues 3-4, Pages
337-353
- Avanti Mallapur,
Anindya Sinha and Natalie Waran (2005) Influence of visitor
presence on the behaviour of captive lion-tailed macaques (Macaca
silenus) housed in Indian zoos Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume
94, Issues 3-4, Pages 341-352
Various documents
relating to the PSGB Captive Care grants are available as RTF files. These can be read by almost any word-processing package.
- Application
Form
- Referees
Form
- Guidance
Notes
Some useful links:
For more information
and advice please contact:
Dr Sonya P. Hill
Convenor, PSGB Captive Care Working
Party
Chester Zoo
Upton
Chester
CH2 1LH
E-mail: ccwp@psgb.org
|
|
     |