High-Tech and Tactile: Cognitive Enrichment for Zoo-Housed Gorillas

Frontiers in Psychology

article

Fay E. Clark¹  Stuart I. Gray³  Peter Bennett⁴  Lucy J. Mason¹  Katy V. Burgess² 

[1] Department of Field Conservation and Science, Bristol Zoological Society, United Kingdom;School of Psychological Science, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, United Kingdom;Centre for Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Engineering, University of Bristol, United Kingdom;Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering, University of Bristol, United Kingdom;Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England, United Kingdom

关键词: animal cognition;    behavior;    challenge;    Gorilla gorilla gorilla;    maze;    puzzle;    technology;    welfare;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01574

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

The field of environmental enrichment for zoo animals, particularly great apes, has been revived by technological advancements such as touchscreen interfaces and motion sensors. However, direct animal-computer interaction (ACI) is impractical or undesirable for many zoos. We developed a modular cuboid puzzle maze for the troop of six Western lowland gorillas ( Gorilla gorilla gorilla ) at Bristol Zoo Gardens, United Kingdom. The gorillas could use their fingers or tools to interact with interconnected modules and remove food rewards. Twelve modules could be interchanged within the frame to create novel iterations with every trial. We took a screen-free approach to enrichment: substituting ACI for tactile, physically complex device components, in addition to hidden automatic sensors, and cameras to log device use. The current study evaluated the gorillas’ behavioral responses to the device, and evaluated it as a form of “cognitive enrichment.” Five out of six gorillas used the device, during monthly trials of 1 h duration, over a 6 month period. All users were female including two infants, and there were significant individual differences in duration of device use. The successful extraction of food rewards was only performed by the three tool-using gorillas. Device use did not diminish over time, and gorillas took turns to use the device alone or as one mother-infant dyad. Our results suggest that the device was a form of cognitive enrichment for the study troop because it allowed gorillas to solve novel challenges, and device use was not associated with behavioral indicators of stress or frustration. However, device exposure had no significant effects on gorilla activity budgets. The device has the potential to be a sustainable enrichment method in the long-term, tailored to individual gorilla skill levels and motivations. Our study represents a technological advancement for gorilla enrichment, an area which had been particularly overlooked until now. We wholly encourage the continued development of this physical maze system for other great apes under human care, with or without computer logging technology.

【 授权许可】

CC BY