Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Winter 2017

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Primate Behavior

Committee Chair

Mary Lee Jensvold

Second Committee Member

Lori K. Sheeran

Third Committee Member

Mark Auslander

Abstract

Studies of chimpanzee space use can provide information about chimpanzees’ preferences and welfare. This study examined the space use of 12 chimpanzees at Fauna Foundation, a chimpanzee sanctuary located in Carignan, Québec, Canada. Observers recorded the chimpanzees’ location, elevation, perimeter, and substrate using a scan sampling procedure. In total, there were 93 hours of data and 3,190 scans. The author used Geographical Information System (GIS) to plot the chimpanzees’ location for each scan. The chimpanzees used the largest rooms most often, were inside 61% (n = 1,942) of the time, an arm’s reach away from the perimeter 90% (n = 2,869) of the time, off the ground 80% (n = 2,556) of the time, and used the substrate rubber mats the most. The chimpanzees showed individual differences in which rooms they occupied the most and which substrates they used the most. The information from this study can be used by current and future chimpanzee sanctuaries when the staff are expanding their enclosures and/or creating new facilities.

Language

English

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