Chimpanzees in zoos have taken Covid lockdowns the same way humans have

Mandatory closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been difficult regardless of race.

When zoos and safari parks were closed, primates spent more time resting and alone, engaged in more sexual and dominant behavior and ate less, new research suggests. .

This study examined how the behavior of bonobos, chimpanzees, western lowland gorillas, and olive baboons changed when humans began to return to zoos.

The researchers found that when the visitors returned, the bonobos and gorillas spent less time alone and the gorillas spent less time resting.

The chimpanzees ate more and smoked more in their enclosures when the zoo was open.

The researchers also found that the olive baboons did not engage in sexual and dominant behavior when the visitors returned.

Also, when the park was closed, they were more likely to approach a visitor’s vehicle than a ranger’s vehicle.

Dr Samantha Ward, Zoo Animal Welfare Scientist, Department of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, said:

“A limitation in understanding how visitors can influence the behavior of animals in zoos and parks is that they rarely have long-term contact with the general public, which provided us with a unique opportunity.

Experts suggest that the effects of human-animal interactions and the presence of zoo visitors are important for animal welfare.

Research shows that species and even individual animals respond differently to people.

Chimpanzees and baboons appear to have been particularly stimulated by the visitor’s return, although it is difficult for individual animals to determine whether the experience was positive, negative or neutral, the scientists say.

Similarly, bonobos and gorillas, who spend less time alone, can be viewed in a positive light.

The reduction in resting behavior in the more sedentary gorillas could also indicate that they were disturbed by visitors, the researchers said.

Studies have shown that gorillas were able to change their use of their enclosure, modify their behavior to reduce potential overstimulation, and manage their experience effectively.

Our findings showed that baboons can be stimulated by the presence of visitors and vehicles, but there was a threshold after which it did not increase.

The study also suggests that the increase in sexual behavior during confinement may be due to the fact that it was not stimulated by the presence of moving vehicles.

Dr. Ellen Williams, animal welfare researcher at Harper Adams University Zoo, said:

“Changes in behavior and use of enclosures in the presence of visitors highlight the adaptation of zoo species to their environment.

“Providing animals with such a positively adaptive environment is critical to their well-being.”

The behavioral data for this study, published in the journal Animals, was collected from April 2020 through September 2020 and November 2020 through January 2021, covering multiple open and closed periods during the coronavirus pandemic.

Bonobos, chimpanzees and gorillas were observed at Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire and baboons were observed by staff at Knowsley Safaris on Merseyside.