Social games that belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) play
Play is an important indicator of physical strength, cognitive functioning, and overall welfare for animals. Performed independently or cooperatively, play provides animals, including humans, opportunities to test and practice various physical abilities, social interactions, and object investigations. One area that is often overlooked in animal play is the presence and nature of games. Sometimes considered […]
Unrewarded Object Combinations in Captive Parrots
In primates, complex object combinations during play are often regarded as precursors of functional behavior. Here we investigate combinatory behaviors during unrewarded object manipulation in seven parrot species, including kea, African grey parrots and Goffin cockatoos, three species previously used as model species for technical problem solving. We further examine a habitually tool using species, […]
Environmental and Social Factors Associated with the Occurrence of Stone-Handling Behavior in a Captive Troop of Macaca fuscata
Stone-handling, a documented behavioral tradition in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), occurs in both captive and provisioned free-ranging troops. We utilize data systematically collected as part of a broader investigation of stonehandling behavior in a captive troop to elucidate the environmental and social factors responsible for its occurrence. We analyzed contexts of stone-handling over 18 mo […]
Preferences for toy types and presentations in kennel housed dogs
Toys are often provided for adult dogs housed in kennels, but their effectiveness as environmental enrichment is not well documented. At a minimum, toys need to elicit interest in the animal for which they are intended, before any “enrichment” can be claimed. In this study we have examined short-term preferences for toys with a range […]
Complexity in Object Manipulation by Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata): A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Manual Coordination in Stone Handling Patterns
Defined as a spontaneous stone-directed noninstrumental manipulative behavior, and comprised of multiple one-handed and (a)symmetrical/(un)coordinated two-handed patterns, stone handling (SH) is a good candidate for the study of complexity in object manipulation. We present a cross-sectional developmental analysis of SH complexity in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), through the combined investigation of bimanuality, coordination, and symmetry […]