Research housing
Laboratory Primate Cage
Caged housing for research primates
What it is
A secure steel enclosure holds a primate behind bars. It lets staff observe, feed, clean, separate individuals and take controlled hold of the animal for research or veterinary procedures.
Where it sits in the system
Facilities use these cages singly, joined into runs, or inside social-housing rooms, depending on the protocol and the species. Caging keeps every animal identifiable, reachable and separable on demand.
Welfare concern
Where space is tight, height and complexity are limited, foraging opportunities are few, and animals are housed alone or repeatedly separated from each other, the result is fear, stereotypies, other abnormal behaviour and damaged social lives.
Worth being precise about
The cage is also how a sick primate is treated and how handlers stay safe. Group housing, compatible companions, enrichment, training, a more complex enclosure and less isolation change the animal's welfare substantially.
