Wageningen, 12 July 2007 - Animal behaviorists at the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, a science center at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo, home to one of the United States’ largest zoo-based conservation and science programs, generally focus on how chimpanzees and gorillas interact with their environment. By analyzing the apes’ behaviors, researchers are able to develop a better understanding of their learning processes, motivations, physical abilities, sensory adaptations, and social structure. This information can then be used to make decisions about managing apes in zoos and in the wild. However, last year’s research included an additional project on how the zoo’s visitors prefer to learn about the chimpanzees and gorillas!

Steve Ross, supervisor of behavioral and cognitive research led the research in which conservation assistant Katie Gillespie observed people watching the apes at Lincoln Park Zoo. She observed the visitors in 476 sessions over a period of twelve months. Equipped with a handheld device running Pocket Observer, Katie coded different human behaviors such as ‘locomote’, ‘watch chimps’, ‘photo chimp’, and ‘read signs’ which were then analyzed on a PC. Full analysis is still months away, but some things have become clear:

• The most popular behavior expressed by visitors was watching apes.
• The average visit was 15.5 minutes.
• Lingering took place in the most naturalistic part of the center.
• Reading signs is less popular than watching apes.

One of the early conclusions is that visitors would rather learn by watching apes than by reading signs and watching videos.

Noldus Information Technology’s flagship product, The Observer, represents the state-of-the-art in behavioral observation software. It is the integrated software system for the collection, analysis, and management of observational data. Pocket Observer offers a mobile solution in situations where it is not practical to use a PC or notebook. The small and lightweight handheld devices are ideal for data collection during observing wild animals in the field and zoo animals in their enclosures.

The Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes: The Fisher Center is one of four conservation and science centers at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo. Founded in 2004, the center brings together ape experts and organizations from around the world to collaborate on groundbreaking basic and applied research, special projects, conferences, fellowships, publications, and informal education. The center’s mission is to initiate and conduct multidisciplinary research that will advance the knowledge of ape biology, improve the care and management of apes in zoos and sanctuaries, and conserve and protect wild ape populations. Located in the Zoo’s Regenstein Center for African Apes, the Fisher Center has developed a unique public education program to educate visitors about ape biology and conservation. For more information, visit http://www.lpzoo.org/.

Noldus Information Technology: Noldus is a leading developer of software tools and integrated solutions for the study of animal behavior. Technologies include advanced video tracking, observational data collection, physiological data acquisition, and behavioral pattern detection. With its global headquarters in The Netherlands, the company also operates from offices across Europe, the United States, and distributors worldwide.

Press contact:
Paige Roderick
Noldus Information Technology Inc.
Email: paige.roderick@noldus.com