AS-HOPE report

Number: AS-24-035

Behavioral study of captive bonobos

Report: MORIMURA NARUKI

Date: 2013/2/24 - 2013/2/28

A preliminary study of captive bonobos was conducted at the San Diego Zoo on February 25 and 26, 2013. I observed 13 bonobos (4 males and 9 females) from 7 am until 4 pm. In order to identify a variety of behavior repertoires of captive bonobos as much as possible, I described bonobos' behavior with an ad lib sampling procedure. Behavior was also collected using a digital video camera for analyzing activity budgets of behavior, social interaction, and personality. Additionally, I investigated the human-bonobo relationship at a husbandry training situation including presentation of body parts, injection, and auscultation. The subjects showed frequently species typical behavior such as genito-genital rubbing and high pitch vocalization as well as feeding, play, agonistic behavior, and tool-using behavior that are in common with chimpanzees. Those data will be used for the comparison of behavioral characteristics between bonobos and chimpanzees and as basic data for future longitudinal research. During the stay, Dr. Satoshi Hirata and I had a meeting with staffs at the San Diego Zoo for the future collaboration on the study of captive bonobos.

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