New research finds captive hyenas are better problem-solvers than their wild counterparts.
Whenever a species' problem-solving ability has been investigated,
tests have typically been conducted on captive specimens. In these
conditions, animals have shown remarkable abilities - not too long ago
we wrote about the cockatoo Figaro who was found to craft and utilise
tools. However, new research demonstrates that what we learn from captive animals may not be so applicable to their wild relatives.
In this study, both captive spotted hyenas and wild ones were given a
steel box containing meat. To get the meat, they had to slide the bolt
across. The researchers (of Michigan State University) found that
captive hyenas were more likely to get the box open and were more
creative with their attempts and less cautious than wild hyenas. In the
captive group 14 out of 19 hyenas got it open, and all on their first
try. Of the 62 wild hyenas (who were collectively given more than 400
attempts), only nine got the meat.
The team say the best
explanation for this result is the different conditions. "It doesn't
appear that these differences result from captive hyenas having more
time or energy," commented former MSU researcher Sarah Benson-Amram. "We
conclude they were more successful because they were more willing to
tackle the problem and were more exploratory."
"We have to be
careful when interpreting results from captive animals, as there may be
extreme differences between how animals behave in captivity and in the
wild. An animal that is successful at solving problems in the comfort of
its cage may be unwilling to engage in similar problem-solving behavior
in the wild."
Photo credit: MSU.
http://www.livescience.com/
http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/
http://www.redorbit.com/news/
New research finds captive hyenas are better problem-solvers than their wild counterparts.
Whenever a species' problem-solving ability has been investigated, tests have typically been conducted on captive specimens. In these conditions, animals have shown remarkable abilities - not too long ago we wrote about the cockatoo Figaro who was found to craft and utilise tools. However, new research demonstrates that what we learn from captive animals may not be so applicable to their wild relatives.
In this study, both captive spotted hyenas and wild ones were given a steel box containing meat. To get the meat, they had to slide the bolt across. The researchers (of Michigan State University) found that captive hyenas were more likely to get the box open and were more creative with their attempts and less cautious than wild hyenas. In the captive group 14 out of 19 hyenas got it open, and all on their first try. Of the 62 wild hyenas (who were collectively given more than 400 attempts), only nine got the meat.
The team say the best explanation for this result is the different conditions. "It doesn't appear that these differences result from captive hyenas having more time or energy," commented former MSU researcher Sarah Benson-Amram. "We conclude they were more successful because they were more willing to tackle the problem and were more exploratory."
"We have to be careful when interpreting results from captive animals, as there may be extreme differences between how animals behave in captivity and in the wild. An animal that is successful at solving problems in the comfort of its cage may be unwilling to engage in similar problem-solving behavior in the wild."
Photo credit: MSU.
http://www.livescience.com/
http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/
http://www.redorbit.com/news/
Whenever a species' problem-solving ability has been investigated, tests have typically been conducted on captive specimens. In these conditions, animals have shown remarkable abilities - not too long ago we wrote about the cockatoo Figaro who was found to craft and utilise tools. However, new research demonstrates that what we learn from captive animals may not be so applicable to their wild relatives.
In this study, both captive spotted hyenas and wild ones were given a steel box containing meat. To get the meat, they had to slide the bolt across. The researchers (of Michigan State University) found that captive hyenas were more likely to get the box open and were more creative with their attempts and less cautious than wild hyenas. In the captive group 14 out of 19 hyenas got it open, and all on their first try. Of the 62 wild hyenas (who were collectively given more than 400 attempts), only nine got the meat.
The team say the best explanation for this result is the different conditions. "It doesn't appear that these differences result from captive hyenas having more time or energy," commented former MSU researcher Sarah Benson-Amram. "We conclude they were more successful because they were more willing to tackle the problem and were more exploratory."
"We have to be careful when interpreting results from captive animals, as there may be extreme differences between how animals behave in captivity and in the wild. An animal that is successful at solving problems in the comfort of its cage may be unwilling to engage in similar problem-solving behavior in the wild."
Photo credit: MSU.
http://www.livescience.com/
http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/
http://www.redorbit.com/news/
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