One commonly used method of managing confiscated wild primates in Latin Ame
rican countries is to release rehabilitated individuals back to their natur
al habitats. However, little information has been collected from confiscate
d animal releases, so no clear guidelines have been developed to measure th
e success of this type of procedure. rn most countries, the collection of c
ritical post-release data is too costly and time-consuming for it to be inc
orporated into the routine procedures of institutions managing confiscated
fauna. Therefore, this project was carried out in conditions similar to tho
se of other Colombian and Latin American rehabilitation centres. A group of
eight confiscated and rehabilitated brown capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella)
was released in Los Llanos Orientales in Colombia, and monitored for 6.5 mo
nths to determine their adaptation and survival after release. Results were
analysed according to how the animals adapted to their new environment in
terms of foraging, feeding, locomotion, sleeping, social interactions betwe
en the group and with other animals and species, predation, orientation, an
d establishment of a territory. The results show that the short-term adapta
tion and survival of the group 6.5 months after release was successful. Fiv
e of the eight animals remained together, two separated, and only one was l
ost during the first month. Implications for animal well-being are discusse
d.