Staying warm together

While we’re likely done with truly cool weather here in Atlanta for a season or two, we didn’t want to miss sharing what we’ve learned in recent months about the ways the non-human primates at the Zoo adapt socially during cool temperatures. Read on to learn more!

As Atlanta’s temperatures dip, primates at the Zoo don’t just bundle up — they adapt, and often, they do it socially and as a unit. From lemurs lounging in warm sunbeams to colobus monkeys clustering near heaters, staying warm is a social affair at Zoo Atlanta. Thanks to some fascinating research happening right here at the Zoo, we’re learning more than ever about how temperature shapes not just comfort, but also possibly strengthens social connections.

Our lemurs thermoregulate in three main styles: huddling and cuddling, sunbathing, and heater use. Sava and Xonsu, our crowned lemurs, spend a significant amount of time huddling with one another for warmth and companionship. Ringtailed lemurs, like Neal and Julius, are known for sitting with arms outstretched and facing the sun in an almost yoga-like pose, soaking in every ray. Luna, our black-and-white-ruffed lemur, takes it a step further by lying on her back with arms stretched wide, elongating her entire body to capture as much warmth as possible. Many of our species are also provided with heaters during the colder months, and our lemurs absolutely love getting extra toasty, often curling up directly in front of them or simply sitting close, holding the mesh. What’s especially sweet is the social dimension to all of this: Sharing a heater, basking in the same patch of sunlight, or pressing close to a companion is about more than staying warm. It’s also all about being together! 

Our Angolan colobus monkeys tell a similar story. A recent study conducted by Zoo Atlanta researchers examined how cold weather affects the behavior of our group of colobus across a range of temperatures throughout the winter and through the spring thaw. The findings shed light on how thermal comfort is woven into primate social life. When heating resources were more limited, cooler temperatures corresponded with increased social pressure within the group and fewer positive interactions among individuals. Using this data, our Small Primate Team then made a series of targeted improvements, adding a second heater, increasing the number of feeding stations, and providing more foraging enrichment. The difference was striking. Social tension eased, competition decreased, and positive social interactions increased noticeably. Warmer temperatures, broadly speaking, were associated with more affiliative behavior, while colder days tended to dampen those friendly social bonds. However, the additional heaters allowed for social tensions to ease and for the monkeys to engage in more daily behaviors instead of focusing on prioritizing thermoregulation.

The pattern that emerges across both our lemurs and our colobus is an affirmative one: For primates, warmth and social wellbeing are inseparable. When animals have reliable access to thermal comfort, they’re freer to engage in positive social behaviors, such as grooming, playing, and resting together, that are so central to a good quality of life. By studying how our animals respond to the changing seasons, our team can continue making thoughtful, data-driven decisions to support their welfare year-round.

It may take a change of seasons or two before we see another truly cool day this year, but next time you’re at the Zoo on a cool day, keep an eye out—you might catch Luna perfecting her sun-worship pose, or spot the colobus piled together near a heater!

Alexz A.
Research Associate