The Psychology department at WCU and the Philadelphia Zoo have had a successful research partnership in animal behavior for several years. This ongoing series of projects provides numerous benefits:
The research team typically consists of student research assistants, students enrolled in Psychology 336 (Animal Behavior Laboratory), students enrolled at other colleges and universities, and community volunteers. At present, we are working on several projects as a group, and student participants are working in small teams on independent projects. The current group projects are summarized here.
Click these links for a synopsis our our team's
involvement in the early stages of the project and a personal
account of the night the gorillas and orangutans came to Philadelphia:
Western
Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla
gorilla) - We are studying the adjustment of these four gorillas
as they adjust to their new surroundings and one another. There
are many unanswered questions about the cognitive capacity and
problem-solving abilities of these magnificent creatures, and
we are trying to gather data about these issues as well.
Sumatran
Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) -
We are observing the two adolescent orangutans, Tua and Mango,
as they form a social relationship and adjust to the new facility.
There are also many unanswered questions about orangutans' cognitive
capacities, and we will be trying to answer some of those as well.
Black
and White Colobus Monkeys (Colobus guereza) - Our team
spent several months gathering baseline information on this family
group of four before their move into the new PECO Primate Reserve,
and are now tracking their adjustment to the new facility. Students
are also studying the development of two infant monkeys, born
in October, 1998 and April, 1999.
Spectacled Langurs (Presbytis
obscurus)- We spent several months gathering baseline information
on this family group of seven before their move into the new PECO
Primate Reserve, and are now tracking their adjustment to the
new facility. We are also studying the behavioral development
of the two infants in the group, and the effect of different feeding
routines on the langurs' behavioral activities.
Polar bears (Ursus
maritimus) - The Philadelphia Zoo is home to two 18-year-old
females, Coldilocks and Klondike. Our group is part of an ongoing
program to develop environmental enrichment procedures for captive
large mammals. This spring, we have been gathering data on problem-solving
(color discrimination), both for enrichment and to study the cognitive
capacities of the bears. Click on the picture for more information
about these projects.
Sloth Bear (Melursus
ursinus) - Part of the same enrichment program described for
the polar bears, we are gathering baseline data on this South
Asian species prior to implementing enrichment strategies, so
that the effects of such strategies - if any - can be documented.
We are also studying the social interactions among the male and
female bears as they are introduced.
Last updated: 6/18/1999
E-mail comments or questions
to Dr. Michael J. Renner
Animal Behavior course home page