As she examined the chimps, Dr. Rodriguez noticed that several individuals had wounds, likely caused by fights within the troop. She also found evidence of gastrointestinal parasites, which could be contributing to the troop's stress and discomfort.

Animal behavior and veterinary science are deeply interconnected fields that focus on understanding why animals act the way they do and how that behavior impacts their medical care and general well-being

Veterinary science is beginning to answer these questions with a new perspective: Just as temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate indicate physiological health, changes in behavior indicate underlying medical or emotional distress.