![]() This web-based tool will allow zoos to automatically compare the behaviour of their chimpanzees to wild chimpanzees, and will provide evidence-based, zoo-specific recommendations about how to modify enclosures to elicit wild-type behavioural profiles. We are applying our knowledge of their locomotion, social behaviour, cultural behaviour and the cognitive abilities that underpin these systems to devise an integrated Enclosure Design Tool (EDT). At the University of Birmingham, we research how wild great apes deal with the demands of their physical and social environment to understand their behaviour, ecology and evolution. In parallel with conservation strategies, the role of zoos in holding these species for survival becomes ever more important.Ī key part of the solution is for zoos to move beyond preserving a species genetic diversity to conserving the whole animal, the behavioural traits and physical adaptations that are a vital part of its ability to survive in natural habitat. If these threats continue, great apes could be extinct across most of their natural range within a generation (IUCN). Great apes are also at risk of being killed for bushmeat or for their infants to be sold as pets. Orangutan habitat for example is threatened by logging and palm oil plantations and mountain gorilla ranges include desirable resources such as coltan and oil. In the wild, however, great apes are centre stage in the balance between improving the quality of human lives and living within the Earth's limits. This improved knowledge has led some to question if we should continue to keep great apes in captivity. This includes our own five-year study on orangutans in Indonesia. But our understanding of great apes’ natural behaviour, and thus their welfare needs while in captivity, has changed radically following decades of field studies on wild apes. Beside the Agile Gibbon, RER has also identified four species of monkeys: East Sumatran Banded Langur, Long-Tailed Macaque, Silvered Langur and Pig-Tailed Macaque that are important for forest ecosystem balance as either pollinators or prey species for predators.Going to see great apes in the zoo has been part of UK culture since 1835, when the first chimpanzee arrived at London Zoo. This arboreal animal is considered Endangered (EN) due to habitat loss and poaching. But uniquely, Agile Gibbons on the Kampar Peninsula have been identified to have darker fur compared to similar species in South Sumatra. It has fur that varies in colour from black to reddish brown. RER has identified five species of primates on the Kampar Peninsula, one of which is an ape, the Agile Gibbon (EN). Apes can even be taught to use sign language, body movements, and even technology to communicate with humans. Monkeys are able to use sound and body language to communicate with each other, but apes have far more advanced cognitive and language skills.Īlthough they don’t have the required physiological adaptations to produce speech, they show extensive language capability. Chimpanzees, the closest apes to humans genetically, can even create and use simple tools to help them gather and access food.Īs with other primates, apes and monkeys spend their lives in complex, tightly woven societies and frequently communicate with each other.īoth of them communicate with smells, visual messages, sounds, and touch. They have larger brain to body size ratio than monkeys, which makes them able to think through and solve problems better. This one may not be easy to tell from a quick glance, but apes are relatively more intelligent than monkeys.
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