Comparative cognitive study on behavioral freedom in non-human animals

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K12048
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Cognitive science
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Morimura Naruki 京都大学, 野生動物研究センター, 特定准教授 (90396226)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 動物福祉 / 比較認知科学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Behavioral freedom has evolved in human. In order to understand an evolutionary basis of behavioral freedom, this project aimed to examine cognitive competences of chimpanzees, genetically closest animal relatives, in terms of self-recognition on a mirror or live-video image, communication via live-video image, and problem-solving in handicapped condition. In a context that captive chimpanzees could manipulate an electric door by pushing a button for moving into an adjoining area freely, a mirror self-image, a live-video self-image, or a live-video other-image were presented. In the wild, camera-traps were set up at tool-using site for water drinking and buttress drumming site. A series of study supported that the complexity of cognitive competence can be a basis of behavioral flexibility.

Free Research Field

動物福祉