Page 56 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

28 2 The Cognitive Abilities of Wild Animals

VetBooks.ir substantially more expensive and time‐
intensive than captive studies. For example,
transporting and housing research staff at
field stations, purchasing sophisticated
equipment for tagging and tracking individu-
als over potentially large ranges as well as for
monitoring behaviour are all likely costs that
can be incurred when conducting research
with wild animals. Considering the cost and
time expenses one may need to account for
when studying animals in the wild, we may
expect that field research is limited by fund-
ing constraints than are studies that can be
done in relatively artificial environments. We
should keep in mind, however, that one
important potential advantage of studying
wild individuals is that we are more likely to
observe behaviours that are the cumulative
result of natural selection.

Figure 2.5 Carefully thought out environmental 2.8 A Final Reminder:
enrichment provision (a plastic drum) provides this Using Different Approaches
polar bear with an object to manipulate, whilst
raising awareness in zoo visitors about the disaster to Understand Learning
that is ‘plastics in our oceans’. Source: Vicky Melfi. and Behaviour

important distinctions between captive and There is genetic variation in many behav-
wild settings in our abilities to record obser- ioural traits, and this provides the raw mate-
vations and conduct experiments. First, wild rial for the evolution of behaviour through
animals are simply more difficult to see and natural selection, but whatever it is that the
to get to, to enable data collection. Second, genes are doing to bring about that variabil-
the wild setting typically allows for a lower ity, they are doing it in an environment; both
degree of experimental control. Rigorous the external environment that the animal
experimental control and the ability to lives in and the internal environment within
manipulate only certain variables while the animal’s body. Taken together, all of this
leaving others constant over time is often variability means that while closely related
required to be able to demonstrate and pro- animals have similar behaviours, there may
vide convincing evidence of many of the cog- also be considerable individual differences in
nitive abilities discussed above and to provide behaviour. How much they do this depends
convincing evidence and replicate findings. on what sort of environment it is, what sort
These are often prerequisites to publishing of animal it is, and what sort of experiences
findings as well as disseminating information that animal has. For this reason it makes no
to broader scientific audiences. A third (and sense to ask how much of a particular behav-
related) difficulty of conducting research on iour an animal exhibits is due to its genes and
cognitive abilities in the wild is that free‐ how much to is due to its environment.
roaming individuals are often difficult to One of the many remarkable things about
recognise individually. A final difficulty of animals is their ability to use their experi-
conducting field research is that it can be ences to modify their behaviour. This is such