Functional Analysis of Aggression in a Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata variegata)

Abstract

A functional analysis was conducted to assess the antecedent and reinforcing conditions underlying aggressive behavior in a female lemur in captivity. Results showed that her aggression was primarily the result of human attention. A replacement behavior-training program was introduced, and the lemur's aggression was successfully eliminated. These results demonstrate the utility of using functional assessment and analyses in zoos with captive wild nonhuman animals.

Keywords::

• functional analysis
• aggression
• lemur