Qualitative Behavioural Assessment of bonobo emotional expressivity across observer groups and zoo housing environments

Daan W Laméris; Marina Salas; Marcel Eens; Lisa Gillespie; Nicky Staes; Jonas RR Torfs; Jonas Verspeek; Hilde Vervaecke; Samantha J Ward; Jeroen MG Stevens

doi:10.1017/awf.2024.29

Animal Welfare (Jan 2024)

Qualitative Behavioural Assessment of bonobo emotional expressivity across observer groups and zoo housing environments

Daan W Laméris,
Marina Salas,
Marcel Eens,
Lisa Gillespie,
Nicky Staes,
Jonas RR Torfs,
Jonas Verspeek,
Hilde Vervaecke,
Samantha J Ward,
Jeroen MG Stevens

Affiliations

Daan W Laméris: ORCiD; Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium Antwerp Zoo Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Koningin Astridplein 26, 2018 Antwerp, Belgium
Marina Salas: ORCiD; Antwerp Zoo Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Koningin Astridplein 26, 2018 Antwerp, Belgium
Marcel Eens: ORCiD; Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
Lisa Gillespie: Twycross Zoo, East Midland Zoological Society, Burton Rd, Atherstone CV9 3PX, UK
Nicky Staes: ORCiD; Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium Antwerp Zoo Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Koningin Astridplein 26, 2018 Antwerp, Belgium
Jonas RR Torfs: ORCiD; Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium Antwerp Zoo Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Koningin Astridplein 26, 2018 Antwerp, Belgium
Jonas Verspeek: ORCiD; Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium Antwerp Zoo Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Koningin Astridplein 26, 2018 Antwerp, Belgium
Hilde Vervaecke: ORCiD; Salto Research Group, Agro-and Biotechnology, Odisee University of Applied Sciences, Hospitaalstraat 21, 9100 Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
Samantha J Ward: ORCiD; School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell, NG25 0QF, UK
Jeroen MG Stevens: ORCiD; Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium Salto Research Group, Agro-and Biotechnology, Odisee University of Applied Sciences, Hospitaalstraat 21, 9100 Sint-Niklaas, Belgium

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/awf.2024.29
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 33

Abstract

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Human evaluation of animal emotional expressivity can inform animal welfare. Qualitative Behavioural Assessment (QBA) has been applied to domesticated and some non-domesticated animals, but its use in primates is limited despite their emotional expressivity. We aimed to develop and apply a QBA for bonobos (Pan paniscus) through two consecutive studies. We applied Free Choice Profiling (FCP) and the Fixed List methodology, respectively, in Study 1 and 2, and invited students and bonobo experts to rate video clips of zoo-living bonobos of different sexes and age classes, and before and after moving to a new enclosure. In Study 1, students described dimension 1 as ranging from ‘quiet/calm’ to ‘angry/active’ and dimension 2 from ‘sad/anxious’ to ‘happy/loving’. Experts described dimension 1 ranging from ‘quiet/relaxed’ to ‘nervous/alert’ and dimension 2 from ‘nervous/bored’ to ‘playful/happy’. Using a fixed list of descriptors, informed by findings from Study 1, students in Study 2 described dimension 1 as ranging from ‘quiet/calm’ to ‘agitated/frustrated’, and dimension 2 from ‘sad/stressed’ to ‘happy/positively engaged’. Experts described dimension 1 as ranging from ‘quiet/calm’ to ‘active/excited’, and dimension 2 from ‘sad/bored’ to ‘happy/positively engaged’. Students scored adults as more ‘calm/quiet’ and experts scored subadults as more ‘happy/positively engaged’. Additionally, experts in Study 2 rated bonobos as more ‘active/excited’ in their new enclosure. Reliability was moderate to good for the dimensions. Additionally, animal-directed empathy of observers influenced QBA scores. This is the first time, FCP has been successfully used as a method to study primate emotional expressivity. Our findings show the promise of employing QBA in primate studies and in industry, with validation of additional metrics to enable its use for welfare-monitoring purposes.

Published in Animal Welfare

ISSN: 0962-7286 (Print); 2054-1538 (Online)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science: Zoology; Agriculture: Animal culture: Veterinary medicine
Website: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/animal-welfare

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