Cooperative problem solving in chimpanzees

Collaborators: Sarah DeTroy, Edwin van Leeuwen & Josep Call

During my research stay at the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust, I worked on cooperative problem solving in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). In close collaboration with Sarah DeTroy, I investigated how and why chimpanzees help conspecifics.

Chimfunshi is a unique chimpanzee sanctuary located in North-western Zambia. The sanctuary is home to roughly 130 chimpanzees, partly mother-reared or human-reared on site, since they were rescued from adverse conditions. The chimpanzees live in several groups in large outdoor enclosures of sizes up to 77 hectares with dense forest and indoor areas, where they are fed once a day. Outside of the feeding time, the individuals range freely in their enclosures. This great place allows for testing hypotheses experimentally under semi-natural conditions.

More information and great video clips about Chimfunshi can be found on YouTube.

© Manon Schweinfurth