The history and status of cognitive research with great apes in the United States

Abstract

Cognitive research in the United States spans approximately 100 years. Most studies have occurred in primate centers, fewer at universities, and for a brief period, in home-based projects focused on enculturation. Historically, great apes living in zoos have been under represented. A shift has occurred that affects the future of the field. Studies at primate centers have significantly decreased, all university based projects have ended, and work in zoos is increasing. The Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center at the Indianapolis Zoo provides an example of one stable, longitudinally based project. The primary areas of study at the Center are symbolic representation, numerical competency, social learning, memory, and strategic reasoning. All data collection sessions are conducted with visitors present. Cognitive studies in a zoo environment promote great ape welfare, offer a platform for transformational public education, and provide an effective means to advance support for in situ conservation of great apes.

A review of zoo‐based cognitive research using touchscreen interfaces

“…), and brown rats ( Rattus norvegicus ) (National Zoo's Think Tank, ). Central to the exhibit were research demonstrations in which orangutans utilized touchscreen computers while scientists explained to zoo visitors how they learned novel tasks (Shumaker, in press).…”

“…In 2004, Lincoln Park Zoo opened the Regenstein Center for African Apes with the express intention of featuring touchscreen research available to both chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ) and gorillas ( G. gorilla ) (Ross, ; Wagner, Hopper, & Ross, ) and later built an exhibit that facilitated touchscreen research for Japanese macaques ( Macaca fuscata ; Cronin, Hopper, & Ross, ; Cronin et al, ). More recently, the Indianapolis Zoo's Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center designed a facility that included the provision of a unique touchscreen setup to allow their orangutans to conduct experiments both on display and in collaboration with the public (Shumaker, in press). The trend for including touchscreen programs in zoo settings is evident internationally as well, with productive programs in place at Kyoto Zoo (Japan; Tanaka, ), Edinburgh Zoo (Scotland; MacDonald & Whiten, ), Marwell Wildlife Zoo (England; Whitehouse, Micheletta, Powell, Bordier, & Waller, ), and Zoo Leipzig and Zoo Heidelberg (Germany; Allritz, Call, & Borkenau, ; Schmitt, , respectively).…”

“…Some zoos have even further integrated touchscreens into visitor engagement efforts. The Indianapolis Zoo has developed interconnected touchscreens that allow orangutans and humans to interact together on cognitive tasks (Martin & Shumaker, ; Shumaker, in press) and researchers at Melbourne Zoo in Australia have created a large virtual touchscreen on the floor of the orangutan exhibit that responded to orangutans’ movement (Webber, Carter, Sherwen, et al, ). Both of these touchscreen‐related exhibits serve not only animal enrichment goals but also allow zoo visitors to engage with animals both cognitively and emotionally (Webber, Carter, Sherwen, et al, ).…”

Does Exposure to Animal Cognition Research Influence the Zoo Visitor Experience?

“…As part of a summative evaluation at the center, first-time visitors were asked to complete a survey that assessed attitudes towards the species in general and conservation efforts related to the species before, immediately after, and six to eight weeks after their initial visit to the center. The results showed improved attitudes towards orangutans immediately after the visitors' visit and in the follow-up evaluations when compared to before their visit -indicating lasting effects from their experience observing orangutan cognitive research (Alexander et al, 2017;Shumaker, 2018). Overall, cognitive research involving great apes serves as positive enrichment for the animals and has received positive feedback from the observing public allowing for greater knowledge and interest in conservation issues (Clay et al, 2011;Egelkamp & Ross, 2018;Ross, 2017;Shumaker, 2018;Webber et al, 2017;Whitehouse et al, 2014).…”

“…In some locations, such as the Orangutan Learning Tree exhibit at Zoo Atlanta, members of the public are able to observe live research with animals during their visit. Exposure to animal research suggests that it may improve overall attitudes towards research methods involving animals (Clay et al, 2011;Egelkamp & Ross, 2018;Perdue, Clay, et al, 2012;Shumaker, 2018). This is likely to be important because misperceptions or misunderstandings about the nature of animal research can have broader implications for zoos and policy.…”