Mandrills are highly social, sexually dimorphic primates with complex social structures. Their welfare in captivity requires appropriate group dynamics, ample space, and foraging enrichment.
Mandrill welfare reflects the enormous social complexity of their natural hordes. Captive groups of 10-20 individuals represent a tiny fraction of natural group size, but must still accommodate the dominance dynamics, reproductive competition, and social relationships that structure mandrill life. Male management is particularly challenging — subordinate males in confined settings face persistent stress from dominant male aggression without the space to maintain natural distance. Facial colouration intensity is a physiological welfare indicator — male mandrills in poor welfare show less vivid colouration, reflecting lower androgen levels in stressed individuals. Foraging enrichment that requires ground-level searching, digging, and manipulation addresses the core behavioural needs of these terrestrial primates.