Managing Abnormal Behavior 

in a Sanctuary Environment

Presented by Kari Bagnall, Founder and Executive Director

Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary – Gainesville, FL
Challenges and Therapies

Captive primates may face a host of 

physical, social, emotional and 

psychological issues from which they 

may not recover, even when placed in 

a more appropriate environment. 

Jungle Friends incorporates many 

different remedies, from fluoxetine to 

diazepam and CBD Oil to lavender oil.

We also use other alternatives -- amino 

acids, vitamins, homeopathy, herbs 

and food.

Monkers and Dylan
Abnormal Behaviors

• Captive monkeys suffer from a variety of 

psychological disorders and atypical behaviors. 

• Some of these include: depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, stereotypical and selfinjurious behaviors.

• Improvement is typically seen with a combination of 

an enriched or naturalistic environment, medical 

treatment and introduction to other monkeys.

• Determine why the monkeys are engaging in 

abnormal behaviors. Is it physical or psychological? 

Each monkey should be treated as an individual. Jersey
Self-Injurious Behavior

Jersey was a privately owned primate (POP) 

who had bitten off one toe and was chewing 

on both feet and his hands -- his flesh was 

literally dying. Jersey's right leg had to be 

amputated and part of his left foot. 
Mirrors for Wound Distraction
Jersey’s Recovery

Jersey is very spirited and has overcome his disabilities – he uses his 

tail as a leg. Jersey and Elizabeth are a model couple, grooming each 

other and engaging in play.
Self-Injurious Behavior

Ricki and Zoey

Ricki was also a POP who was species 

isolated. He became more aggressive and 

agitated, and started self-attacking. 

Ricki’s self-injurious behavior became 

unmanageable. He had to have his leg 

amputated and was put on Fluoxetine.

Ricki was introduced to Zoey at the 

sanctuary and is finally enjoying the 

companionship he’s always needed. 
Self Attacking - Digit Sucking 

Mario was a POP who was kept illegally until he escaped his cage. Baby 

monkeys who are "pulled" from their mothers before they are weaned or 

would naturally separate usually, if not always, have problems. 
Self Attacking - Digit Sucking 

Mario stopped his self-attacking behavior as soon as he met Tessa, 

although he still sucks his thumb and his toe.
Distraction Bandages

Bandaging Gamble’s mysterious wound.
Grasping and Rocking

Gamble has been in 

our clinic for several 

weeks with a wound

on his back, 

compounded by 

pneumonia and a 

MRSA infection.

Gamble is a POP 

who lives with his 

brother in an 

appropriate 

environment. When 

he became ill, it 

triggered his 

abnormal rocking 

behavior.
Self-Injurious Behavior 

Due to Medical Condition

Wendell was a POP who had chewed his hand and bitten off a toe. He 

was diagnosed as a diabetic with neuropathy. 
Self-Attacking Behaviors

Cuzco and his family were captured in 

the wild, shipped illegally to China and 

then back to LA, without food or water. 

Cuzco survived. His family did not.

The San Diego Zoo took him in, and 

then sent him to Jungle Friends to find 

companionship.

When Cuzco arrived he was on 

antidepressants, neuropathy medication 

and antianxiety drugs for self-attacking. 

He is now surrounded by his own 

species and is off all medication. Cuzco
Self-Attacking Behaviors

Originally Jimmy was a POP and 

later sold into the entertainment 

industry.

When Jimmy arrived, he was selfattacking and had problems 

socializing. He was referred to as 

“Jimmy the Jerk”.

A naturalistic environment and 

the right friends were all Jimmy 

needed to stop all abnormal 

behaviors.
Floating Limb

Iris Iris Meets Scooter
Fear-based Behaviors

Charles Manson was captured in the 

rainforest as a juvenile and sold into 

research, where he was singly-housed 

and used in iron-toxicity studies for 20 

years. Singly-housed monkeys are more 

likely to exhibit abnormal behaviors. 

Unfortunately, 12 years later he still lives 

alone. He has had many failed 

socializations. Other monkeys from the 

same lab are successfully socialized. 

Monkeys are all individuals. 

We are still hopeful for a good match. Charles Manson 
Habitats for the Disabled
KC and Bongo Playing

Bongo became paraplegic due to a ruptured disc. We were told he would 

never walk again. Euthanasia was encouraged. Instead, we brought him 

back to the sanctuary where his dear friend KC showered him with 

tender-loving care. Bongo not only walks—he plays!
Over-Grooming

Samantha and Charlotte 

are biological sisters. 

They sleep together, eat 

together, play and groom, 

or should I say, Samantha 

over-grooms herself, and 

her sister Charlotte.

No matter what we have 

tried, Samantha continues 

to over-groom.

Samantha over-grooming herself

Charlotte has been over-groomed by Samantha 
Hair Pulling and Eating

One study in macaques concluded that this is an aggressive behavioral 

disorder reflecting adjustment problems to a stressful environment.
Samantha and Charlotte 

Rough Housing

Even though Samantha and Charlotte are living in the best environment 

I can give them, Samantha still over-grooms herself and her sister.
Hair Loss

Sloth’s hair growth within the 

first month of being outside.

Sloth had much of his hair missing 

when he was released from the lab. 
Hair Loss

“At first, we could not figure out why quite a 

few of our squirrel monkeys had hair loss or 

generalized alopecia. We did skin scrapes, 

prophylactic deworming, and skin biopsies 

that revealed no abnormalities. After visiting 

another facility in the summer where their 

squirrel monkeys were housed outdoors, 

myself and a work colleague could not help 

but notice how beautiful and full the 

haircoats of these squirrel monkeys were 

compared to our animals. After questioning 

the staff, the only difference between their 

animals and our animals was that their 

squirrel monkeys were housed outdoors 

and our animals were not. We then 

hypothesized that our animals may have 

hair loss or hair thinning due to a vitamin D 

deficiency. After the daily Allerderm with 

vitamin D supplementation their fur began 

to improve.” – Veterinarian at the lab

Moe
Sunshine and Fresh Air 

Can Promote Hair Growth

Joey and Earl were released from research and arrived looking 

much like Moe. After a few months of the great outdoors and 

companionship, they were sporting handsome coats of fur.
Baby Udi – Udi Monster

Radiographs showed Udi had a severe 

case of metabolic bone disease, he 

couldn’t walk or stand. Sunshine made 

all the difference.
Social Grouping 

Same Species
Social Grouping

Mixed species
Monkey Surrogates

Mochi was an infant when he 

arrived at Jungle Friends after an 

animal facility closed. 

Monkers and Zumie proved to be 

wonderful surrogate mothers for 

baby Mochi, carrying him on their 

backs, nurturing him, grooming and 

playing with him. 

Due to this mothering, Mochi has 

no abnormal behaviors.
Monkey Surrogacy

Monkers and Baby Mochi
Surrogacy Success for Dylan

Dylan was confiscated by the authorities and 

arrived so malnourished he could barely lift his tiny 

head. Then he met Monkers and Zumie who 

provided the mothering he was denied. 

Dylan has no abnormal behaviors!
Surrogacy Success

Jasper & ChiChi

ChiChi Jasper

ChiChi was a POP and Jasper was 

traded in a used car deal and 

then given to a teenager as a 

birthday present.

Both ChiChi and Jasper were 

taken from their mothers at a 

very early age. Both were 

clutching inanimate objects.

Once these two were introduced, 

both monkeys gave up their 

objects for each other. Neither 

have any abnormal behaviors.
Ebi and Mickey anointing with oranges, and a bit of 

orange bashing to make orange juice too!

Anointing as a Social Activity
Aromatherapy Anointing

Dodger Anointing with Lavender Oil
Aromatherapy with Diffuser

Oil Diffuser used in our on-site clinic.
Natural Remedies

Puchi drinks his CBD Oil Preparing CBD oil snacks
Anti-Depressants/

Anxiety Medications

Elvis

Spanky

Wanda Mario

Joey Darwin Ricki
Naturalistic Habitats
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Environmental Enrichment
Environmental Enrichment
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Environmental Enrichment
Runways Everywhere!
Monkeys on the Move 

Pip and Zeke
Drop-Down Chutes = 

Less Stress

Drop-down chutes on the runways are very helpful tools for a 

safe capture. Monkeys are easily moved from the drop chutes 

to the clinic or other habitats. 
Utilizing a Drop-Down Chute

Chewy was medically discharged from our onsite clinic and 

Golden Child was very happy about that!
Runway 99er!

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Panoramic view of our new super runway!
Prevention Is the Key

Baby monkeys need their mothers.
Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary

Gainesville, FL

Kari Bagnall, Founder & Executive Director

karibagnall@junglefriends.org

www.JungleFriends.org