Macaques show increased food caution following viral outbreak

A study published in Royal Society Open Science reveals that macaque groups exposed to a deadly viral outbreak exhibit significantly higher levels of caution regarding potentially contaminated food. Researchers from the University of California San Diego conducted trials at a primate sanctuary in Texas to observe behavioral changes following a 2020 outbreak of simian retrovirus Type II (SRV).

In food-choice experiments, macaques from groups that experienced the outbreak were much less likely to consume food placed near simulated feces compared to unexposed groups. Specifically, only 47 percent of the outbreak-exposed macaques ate the food near the simulated contamination, whereas 79 percent of the unexposed macaques did so.

The research suggests that group history and exposure to a period of illness and death can heighten sensitivity to disgust as an evolutionary strategy to avoid infection, even if the animals do not understand the specific transmission mechanism. The study also noted that early-life experiences, such as being raised as pets, influenced these avoidance behaviors.