To Provide for a Year Round Outdoor Breeding and Daily Maintenance of a Colony of a Rhesus ('Macaca mulatta') Monkeys

摘要

Land clearing and construction of the facilities began in October, 1977. At the end of Year Three, the authors have completed the following: boardwalk, two docks, four feeding and trapping compounds, a maintenance and storage shed, two feeding and watering stations, a tractor shed, two gang cages, and a 25' x 100' holding compound on cement pillars. In February, 1978, the first group of monkeys was transferred to Raccoon Key. Prior to transfer, all monkeys were captured, housed in individual cages, and tested. All of the animals were found to be free of Tuberculosis, antibody to Herpes Simiae, Salmonella, and Shigella. In addition, all animals were vaccinated against rabies and tetanus. Also, individual files were made for each animal and continuous updated of colony and medical history were maintained. The contract requirements were completed in November, 1979. At that time, the authors had transferred a total of 80 male and 800 female from Key Lois to Raccoon Key. In 1978 a total of 115 newborns were recorded, of which there were two sets of twins. In 1979, a total of 313 births were recorded. To date during 1980, a total of 450 newborns have been recorded, and we anticipate approximately 30 additional births.