Monkey business at Marwell (From Hampshire Chronicle)
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Monkey business at Marwell
8:50am Saturday 24th December 2011 in South Winchester By Emma Streatfield
Macaque monkeys at Marwell Wildlife's park near Winchester have been getting to grips with new touch-screen technology for a new research project into their behaviour
MONKEYS have been 'app'-lying themselves to the latest technology.
Visitors to Marwell Wildlife will see these primates getting up to some real monkey business as they have a go on a touch screen.
Scientists will be working with the Sulawesi crested macaques at the wildlife park near Winchester, creating the world's first cognitive study centre for the rare animals.
They will invite them to operate computer touch screens to investigate their memory, communication and emotion.
The wildlife park has joined forces with the University of Portsmouth for the pioneering two to three year £25,000 project, which gives the public a rare chance to see such studies in action.
The centre has been built alongside Marwell Wildlife's Sulawesi crested macaque island - scientists will work in a glassed test area.
The macaques go about their daily routine and can choose to enter the research area or end the sessions whenever they like - they receive food treats when they take part.
Lead scientist Dr Bridget Waller, from the university's department of psychology, said: “The animals can make choices using the touch screens and this offers us a direct window into their understanding.“It allows us to ask scientific questions that can't be addressed by observational studies alone.
“The macaque studies will give us a better understanding of how the macaques communicate their perception of the world, their emotions and social relationships.”The species of macaque is critically endangered with little known about their behaviour and psychology.
Dr Waller said by understanding more about their social interactions from this study, scientists can understand how and why, primates, including humans, have evolved such good social skills.“Our partnership with Marwell Wildlife offers the scientific community a unique and invaluable opportunity to study these fascinating animals,” she added.
Chief Executive of Marwell Wildlife, James Cretney, said: “We think it gives our guests, including large numbers of young people, a great opportunity to see science in action, which is an important extension of our role in conservation.“Similar projects are in place with related species in zoological parks around the world and have been shown to benefit the animals by adding some new and interesting challenges to their environment.”
