Primate Captive Welfare
While studying for a MRes at Durham University, (with Jan de Ruiter) I looked at welfare conditions of a captive group of mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) maintained at Chester Zoo (UK).
The data collection focussed on the detrimental interactions between the mandrills and the zoo visitors. The main stressor agent in this sensitive species was identified as zoo visitors not taking care of a general required attitude to be adopted within the madrills' display area. The zoo therefore positioned planters between the animal display and visitors' passage.
This modification was awarded with a UFAW Wild Animal Welfare Award 2007 for the best innovations for zoo animal welfare and has appeared in the news: BBC, Reuter, Metro, ScienceDaily, etc.