Analysis of the behavior of Callithrix jacchus in zoo of Uberlândia-MG

Abstract

Zoos were created to promote the welfare and conservation of species, however, animals living in captivity may exhibit behaviors outside the standard of free living. It has been proposed as objective make the behavioral analysis of common marmoset Callithrix jacchus, in a zoo located in Uberlândia, MG, Brazil. In the animals captivity were found objects used as environmental enrichment, which tried to simulate a natural habitat.  Using the ad libitum method, the observation period was divided into two days with ten hours each, with annotations behavior at intervals of five minutes. The activities more performed during the observations of Callithrix jacchus were eat, rest and play. Many aspects of the activity pattern of the group were similar to those inhabiting other places, including the natural habitat of the animals. This suggests that these primates have some capacity to adapt to a variety of habitat types, including captivity.