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Full text of article
'Vančatová M, Vančata V, 2021: The simple objects place in enclosure for gorillas initiate rare or new behavioural patterns – implications for the origin of hominine tool behaviour. Anthropologie (Brno) 59, 1: 45-54'. |
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| Abstract | | Our results demonstrate that very simple objects for environmental enrichment can initiate more types of
behaviour in the group of gorillas or provoke the new or innovative behavioural patterns. There are three types of objects:
plastic boxes and wooden baskets; wooden shaving; long tools, branches and toys. We observed the group of gorillas in
Prague Zoo (2009–2018). All animals use these three types of objects daily and include them in the different types of
behaviour (play, agonistic, sexual, social, comfort). Boxes and baskets used as a step-stools or seats, weapons, drums as
drummers and for the increase effects during chest beating, for the sweeping garbage. Baskets are used for hiding. Wooden
shaving used as a pads, making of a primitive slippers (and all youngsters learn this behaviour from their mother), as
a neck protectors, as a cushion, use to a clean of the body, creating "Islands" during traveling through the new substrate
place. Blocking the photocell on drinking by the wooden shaving enable the use water all the time. After making of
primitive slippers gorillas used them for the moving on the wet or cold floor. Our study proves that gorillas are able
sophisticated tool behaviour. They do not show much tool modifications, however, the degree in using innovations and
active tool using is relatively very high. Some features of their tool activities indicate the origin of traditions, like using of
plastic boxes or wooden-shaving slippers. These results show that environmental enrichment could reveal mechanisms of
formation of early hominine tool behaviour and relations of using tools to the development of early hominine cognitive
abilities. | | | | Keywords | | Gorilla – Tool behaviour – Environmental enrichment | | | | DOI | | https://doi.org/10.26720/anthro.20.01.17.1 | | |
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