Mandrill

Facts

IUCN VULNERABLE (VU)

Facts about this animal

The mandrill is a large, colourful and highly sexually dimorphic short tailed primate species. Males can grow up to twice the size of females, reaching a head-body-length of almost 90 cm, height at shoulder of over 50 cm, and a body-weight of up to 50 kg. Mandrills have a short tail of 6-9 cm. The bare face is characterized by six prominent blue ridges along the length of the nose. The area between each set of ridges is a bright scarlet extending forward to the muzzle and around the nostrils. Females have less pronounced ridges, lacking the purple coloration in the grooves and the scarlet is replaced by black. The buttock pads of both males and females are furless and have a lilac tinge with reddish purple edges. The fur on the upper side is tawny green, and the underparts are yellowish.

Mandrills live in groups of one adult male, up to 10 adult females and their offspring. Seasonally these groups may come together to form larger tropps of, up to 200 animals. Adult males without harems are solitary. Preferred habitat is dense rainforest where the heavier males travel along the ground and the smaller females and babies are found mid-level in the trees. After foraging on the ground for fruits, plant material, mushrooms, invertebrates, and sometimes small vertebrates, they enter sleeping trees in the late afternoon.

Reproduction appears to be seasonal with most births occurring between the months of January and April. Maturity in females is reached about three or four years of age, two years later in males. Gestation is 168-176 days.

Did you know?
that mandrills are threatened because they constitute an essential part of the "bush meat" which is a main protein source for many people in western Africa?

Factsheet
Class	MAMMALIA
Order	PRIMATES
Suborder	SIMIAE
Family	CERCOPITHECIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Mandrillus sphinx
Name (English)	Mandrill
Name (French)	Mandrill
Name (German)	Mandrill
Name (Spanish)	Mandril
CITES Status	Appendix I
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
Brian

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon
Habitat	Rainforests and sub-tropical forests
Wild population	Unknown, but undoubtedly has diminished over the years. In some places has been exterminated locally and the largest populations are found in Gabon (Red List IUCN 2011)
Zoo population	493 reported to ISIS (2007)

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 33 or 34 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

Find this animal on ZooLex

Photo Copyright by
Robert Young

Why do zoos keep this animal

The mandrill is less threatened than its cousin, the drill, but it is very attractive due to its colouration, and being social, and diurnal, is a perfect ambassador species for the threatened fauna and habitat of the Central African rainforest.

Mandrills may be kept in mixed exhibits with larger ungulates, e.g. pygmy hippos.

How this animal should be kept

Mandrills are social animals and should be kept in family groups or, for a limited time span, in male groups.

Minimum size for an inside enclosure for a group of 1,3 animals would be 50 m², while minimum size for outside enclosures for a group of 1,3 animals would be 70 m² plus off exhibit facility of 10 m², the height of all exhibits should not be less than 3 m.

Basically a fully closed enclosure with covering roof is preferred. A variety of behavioural enrichment compartments, especially climbing structures, is recommended. Towards visitors there should be glass to prevent direct contact or feeding, the glass only on 1 or 2 sides to allow some off view areas for the animals; double layered glass of 2 x 10 mm thickness is reliable;

Walls: minimum height in closed enclosures is 3 m and should not be used on all sides to allow visual contact to the outside, not only to the front; to the sides or back fence with an overhang or covering roof; if a fence towards the public then at least at a distance of 2 m; fence material: 3 mm and 20 x 20 mm mesh, covering roof to prevent escape and allow high climbing structures for the animals; hot wire as secondary barrier and to protect trees inside the enclosure.

Mandrills should have a high percentage of feeding behaviour. A varied diet offered more than 5 times per day is important for enrichment. Even the quality and type of diet should be varied.

One goal of feeding should be to stimulate natural feeding behaviour and to encourage exploration and manipulation. This should be considered when planning the outside and inside enclosures. For example some of the following items should be offered irregularly: fresh browse, small food items, worms, cereals, drums with peanuts inside, paper boxes or paper wrapped around food, food on the ceilings, wood chips mixed with seeds or small fruit items, "food sticks". Cardboard boxes, newspapers, sticks, toys, etc. can also be given for play and investigation.

Regular food items are apple, carrot, celery, cucumber, hard boiled egg, rice, lettuce, monkey chow/pellets, parsley, tomato, branches.

Food is offered 5 times daily. As noted above, food should be spread to encourage social dynamics and is very important as behavioural enrichment.

For giving oral medication within food it is mixed into riceballs or human baby food (if necessary add sugar, honey or milk substitute). It is important to offer these additional food items regularly in order to achieve acceptance in case of necessary medication.