Mandrills are the world's largest monkeys, living in complex multi-male, multi-female groups in the wild — and their welfare in zoos depends critically on appropriate social housing and cognitive stimulation.
Mandrill welfare in zoo settings requires recognition that this is a species where social hierarchy is not merely a social phenomenon but a physiological one — the vivid coloration of dominant males literally reflects their hormonal and social status. Housing arrangements that prevent appropriate expression of dominance hierarchies, or that place males in agonistic situations without sufficient space to avoid conflict, cause chronic stress with measurable physiological consequences. Single housing of mandrills violates fundamental social needs. Foraging enrichment is particularly important given their extensive wild foraging time budget: puzzle feeders, scatter feeding, browse provision, and variable feeding schedules all contribute to behavioural diversity and reduced stereotypy. Best-practice facilities provide large multi-component exhibits with vertical and horizontal space, varied substrate, and regular novel enrichment. Breeding management must account for the welfare of subordinate males who may be socially suppressed in smaller groups.