At the Primatology Forum 2025, researchers from the Comparative Minds group shared findings from their study “The role of personality in welfare: how individual differences in personality influence welfare variations and response to environmental enrichment in captive Sapajus apella.”

The research, carried out at Bioparque Buinzoo (Chile), examined the links between personality, behaviour, and welfare in capuchin monkeys. By combining behavioural observations with welfare and personality assessments, the study revealed that each animal’s temperament plays a key role in how it copes with life in captivity and benefits from enrichment activities.

Results showed that more active and sociable individuals tended to display higher welfare indicators, while those with less favourable welfare were often less active. These findings highlight the importance of taking individual differences into account when designing enrichment and management strategies in zoos and sanctuaries.

This research underlines the growing relevance of applied ethology in improving animal welfare and promoting evidence-based approaches in captive care. By integrating personality assessment into welfare planning, institutions can develop more effective, tailored interventions that enhance both well-being and positive social behaviour.

Through this contribution, Comparative Minds reinforces its commitment to advancing the understanding of primate behaviour and welfare, and to building international collaborations in the field of comparative cognition.