Behavioral and cortisol responses to repeated capture and venipuncture in Cebus apella

Eight capuchins were trained in a capture and venipuncture procedure. Samples taken immediately following capture indicated that subjects experienced rising cortisol levels over the first 5 weeks of training followed by a return to baseline (equivalent to day 1 levels) in the sixth and seventh weeks. After 7 weeks, samples taken 60 min after initial capture revealed that behaviorally habituated animals exhibited significantly lower cortisol levels in response to venipuncture as opposed to naive and experienced but nonbehaviorally habituated subjects.