Fuller, M. 2023. Sensory enrichment for the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). Animal Technology and Welfare 22(1), 44–46.

Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) are New World primates that are found within the coastal rainforests of North East (NE) Brazil. They are a multisensory species, relying on all their senses to survive. It is the duty of all animal carers to fulfil the 5 needs of captive animals,1 one of which being the need to express natural behaviours. Apart from the environmental enrichment that is placed in a primate’s home cage, the majority of enrichment ideas used usually involve hiding foods and sweet treats encouraging the sense of taste to keep the animals engaged for longer. Within the marmoset breeding colony, at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), a form of enrichment that would encourage the primates to use sense of smell was trialled. To do this the hammock within the marmoset’s home cage was soaked in other scents to encourage a use of the sense of smell. This poster describes the trial designed to assess 2 different scents on one of the breeding families.