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Author Judge, P.G.; de Waal, F.B.; Paul, K.S.; Gordon, T.P.
Title Removal of a trauma-inflicting alpha matriline from a group of rhesus macaques to control severe wounding Type Journal Article
Year 1994 Publication Laboratory animal science Abbreviated Journal Lab Anim Sci
Volume 44 Issue 4 Pages 344-350
Keywords *Aggression; Animals; Female; *Macaca mulatta; Male; *Monkey Diseases; *Social Dominance; Wounds and Injuries/epidemiology/prevention & control/*veterinary
Abstract Wounding in an 83-member group of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) housed at the Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center Field Station became excessive to the point that intervention was deemed necessary. When observations indicated that three females from the group's alpha matriline were principally responsible for the wounding, the matriline (N = 7) was removed from the group. This study was conducted to document an atypical pattern of wounding in this group and to evaluate the effectiveness of removal as a procedure for controlling injuries. The aggression rates of 21 adult subjects and the wounds of all group members were recorded before and after the removal procedure and compared with those in a similar-sized group. Removing the alpha matriline did not alter aggression rates in the group or the rank order among the remaining matrilines. Aggression rates in the experimental group were also not significantly different from those in the comparison group before or after the removal. With the alpha matriline present, wounding levels in the group were significantly higher than those in the comparison group. After removal of the matriline, the frequency of wounds decreased significantly to levels similar to those of the comparison group. The pattern of excess wounding attributed to the extracted alpha females was idiosyncratic, involving removal of large patches of skin from the hindquarters of adult females or removal of the distal portion of the fingers, toes, or tail from juveniles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Address Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0023-6764 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes PMID:7983846 Approved no
Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 207
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