Age and Experience in Chimpanzee Nest Building

Ten captive-born chimpanzee adults (age range 11-30 yr.; M, 21) who had failed to produce nests in repeated individual tests were selected for training. Five were caged adjacent to and five were caged with chimpanzees who regularly constructed nests. All were supplied with pine straw, burlap, newspaper, hose lengths, rope, etc. Fresh materials were provided whenever possible (a median of 25 times) during July through November. Each time marerials were provided they were allowed to remain in the cages for several days. Whereas most of the wild-born animals constructed a nest each night, none of the captive-born chimpanzees ever produced a nest, despite frequent manipulation of materials and contacts with nests produced by cagemates. Tested individually, the captive-born animals still failed to construct nests whereas six wild-born animals (age range 15-40 yr.; M, 30) caged in pairs all continued to build nests. Competition for materials therefore did not seem to be a factor. Five 3-yr.-old wild-born chimpanzees were tested individually and in pairs for three days with similar nesting materials. Exact age at capture was unknown but all were acquired at about 1 yr. of age. Three of these five produced nests which laboratory staff members could identify from photographs. It is, therefore, suggested that given suitable opportunities and examples chimpanzees learn to construct nests before the age of two. Without this early experience, adult chimpanzees, with all the required manipulatory skills and considerable interest in both the materials and nests produced by cagemaces, may require extensive training to acquire the requisite pattern of responses

Biology · Nest (protein structural motif · Nest box · Seasonal breeder · Zoology · Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior · Demography · Ecology · Human-Animal Interaction Studies · Primate Behavior and Ecology · Psychology

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