A chest harness and pole-leash for routine transfer of rhesus monkeys from home cage to behavioral test apparatus and back.

A chest harness and pole-leash method to transfer rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) weighing up to 16 kg from home cage to primate restraint chair was designed. The harness was made of leather straps that crossed the chest in an X-fashion, and created a V-neck. The V-neck eliminated the strangulation hazard of neck collars, and minimized interference between the harness and neck hole of restraint chairs. Two pole-leashes attached to 2 points on the harness gave the handler considerable control over the posture of the monkey, making it easier to teach the monkey to walk with a leash and to climb into its restraint chair or test apparatus. During transfer the rigid pole prevented escape and protected the handler from attack. Quick release mechanisms on the pole-leash allowed prompt, complete separation from the animal when it re-entered its home cage.