Getting primates to eat pellets: The nutrition of New World monkeys at Jersey Zoo

Marmosets and tamarins (Callitrichidae) incorporate a large quantity of ins ects into their diet in the wild and are thought to have a high protein req uirement in captivity. Previous investigations of problems potentially rela ted to nutrition that have arisen in the collection of New World primates a t Jersey Zoo suggested that the original diets provided may have been defic ient in protein, and a series of studies aimed at increasing protein intake in the collection was therefore undertaken. An investigation of the palata bility of several types of primate pellet showed that the commercial pellet s designed specifically for New World primates, which contain most of the p rotein in the diet, were not the most palatable. Approaches to increasing p alatability and intake were therefore investigated. Use of different flavou rings had little effect on pellet intake, but reducing the amount of fruit presented did increase intake. The results indicated species differences in protein requirements and food preferences, and emphasise that ensuring tha t the nutritional requirements of individual species are met in captivity i s vital to the success of breeding programmes for endangered species.