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36 3 The Ultimate Benefits of Learning

VetBooks.ir 3.2 Survival Value of
Learned Behaviours

As Tinbergen himself stated ‘the ultimate test
of survival value [of a behaviour] is survival
itself, survival in the natural environment’
(Tinbergen 1963, p. 423). Animals evolve
cognitive abilities, as they would physical or
behavioural abilities, to deal with challenges
faced in their wild ecological niches (Meehan
and Mench 2007). One concern regarding
zoo populations is that animals will lose their
natural survival behaviours (sometimes
referred to as traits or skills [Snyder et al.
1996]), or their ability to cope with these
challenges (Hill and Broom 2009), due to not
being subjected to natural phenomenon such
as predation (see Chapter 12). Some survival
behaviours are instinctive and we observe
these behaviours regardless of whether ani-
mals are wild or captive. For example in many
primate species that conduct arboreal loco-
motion ‘ventral clinging’ behaviour in infants
is essential; offspring must cling tightly to
their mothers as falling would undoubtedly Figure 3.1 An example of the innate behaviour
lead to death, and in many species we see this displayed here by a newborn silvery gibbon
instinctive clinging behaviour within hours (Hylobates moloch); ventral clinging displayed by
of birth (see Figure 3.1). However responding newborn primates is essential to their survival.
to predator alarm calls may require a much Source: reproduced with permission of Chester Zoo.
longer period of development, for example in
wild vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygeryth- Historically the distinction between instinc-
rus) the production of vocalisations in the tive or learned (nature vs nurture) behav-
correct social context, and the correct iours has been controversial. But it is
response to others’ vocalisations, gradually generally considered that behavioural ontog-
develops across the first four years of life eny is a complex interplay between genetics
(Seyfarth and Cheney 1986). Within the zoo- and the environment (Barlow 1991), where
logical environment we are uniquely placed some behaviours arise from a greater contri-
to evaluate the survival value of learned bution of instinct or learning.
behaviours through evaluating the success, In order to explore survival behaviours
or indeed failure, of reintroduction attempts. we conducted a brief review of recent
A generalised benefit for zoo animals of ( published since 2005–2018) studies on
learning appropriate behaviours is that it will reintroduction attempts. The review was
aid reintroduction attempts as they require conducted using results from a ‘Web of
animals to demonstrate suitable ‘survival Science’ database search, where the search
behaviours’ (Rabin 2003). We can therefore terms were ‘reintroduction*behaviour’ and
highlight the survival value of learning by ‘reintroduction*learning’. Studies included
focusing on which of these behaviours appear in the review were: reintroductions of cap-
to have a learned component, i.e. are less tive born and raised individuals (from zoos
reliant on instinct and instead the behav- or other captive environments); animal
iour develops within an animal’s lifetime. translocations, as they represented animals