Mandrills are highly social, intelligent primates whose welfare in captivity depends on appropriate group size, complex social dynamics, environmental enrichment, and management sensitive to their behavioral needs.
Mandrills are among the most socially complex primates in captivity, and their welfare is highly sensitive to social management. Incompatible group compositions lead to chronic aggression, wounding, and stress. Small groups cannot support the complex social hierarchies and relationships that mandrills have evolved to navigate. Individuals in inappropriate social settings show elevated stress hormones, stereotypic behaviors, and reduced reproductive success. Environmental enrichment must address their extensive foraging drive; mandrills in barren or small enclosures develop behavioral pathologies reflecting frustration of fundamental behavioral needs.