Captive chimpanzee preference for environmental enrichment: naturalistic vs. artificial
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC Ballroom C/D
Start Date
16-5-2013
End Date
16-5-2013
Abstract
The cognitive abilities of chimpanzees are complex, requiring challenging environmental enrichment that promotes well-being, and species typical behaviors (Fouts, 1998; Lutz andNovak , 2005). We examined the use and preference of two types of enrichment for three adult chimpanzees living at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute (CHCI). These include (1) artificial: magazines, drawing material, brushes, cardboard, toys etc., and (2) naturalistic: items typically found in a free-living environment such foliage and branches (Davey, 2006). We predicted that as cross-fostered chimpanzees they would demonstrate a preference for artificial enrichment. A chi-square test of independence revealed that the frequency of time intervals during which the chimpanzees touched the enrichment varied with condition in all three individuals. Overall the chimpanzees touched objects more in the naturalistic enrichment condition. Naturalistic enrichment often was edible which may account for the differences in conditions. The implications of these results will be discussed.
Recommended Citation
schulze, Savannah; Mas, Jessica; Stafford, RyAnn; and Jensvold, Mary Lee, "Captive chimpanzee preference for environmental enrichment: naturalistic vs. artificial" (2013). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 18.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2013/posters/18
Poster Number
12
Additional Mentoring Department
Anthropology
Captive chimpanzee preference for environmental enrichment: naturalistic vs. artificial
SURC Ballroom C/D
The cognitive abilities of chimpanzees are complex, requiring challenging environmental enrichment that promotes well-being, and species typical behaviors (Fouts, 1998; Lutz andNovak , 2005). We examined the use and preference of two types of enrichment for three adult chimpanzees living at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute (CHCI). These include (1) artificial: magazines, drawing material, brushes, cardboard, toys etc., and (2) naturalistic: items typically found in a free-living environment such foliage and branches (Davey, 2006). We predicted that as cross-fostered chimpanzees they would demonstrate a preference for artificial enrichment. A chi-square test of independence revealed that the frequency of time intervals during which the chimpanzees touched the enrichment varied with condition in all three individuals. Overall the chimpanzees touched objects more in the naturalistic enrichment condition. Naturalistic enrichment often was edible which may account for the differences in conditions. The implications of these results will be discussed.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Mary Lee Jensvold