Familiarity and ape-human interactions in the zoo

What is it about?

Humans interact socially in different ways with different people, in part based on their familiarity which facilitates different relationships. In this research I found that zoo-housed orangutans and gorillas similarly use human familiarity to guide their social initiatives to different humans they encounter in the zoo. Based on patterns of ape-initiated behaviors directed to humans, I concluded that apes' behaviors with zoo personnel and familiar visitors were consistent with positive relationships, whereas their behaviors with unfamiliar visitors were consistent with more neutral or negative relationships.

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Why is it important?

This was the first empirical study of the human-animal relationship model with zoo-housed great apes. Findings from this research call into question long-held beliefs that humans in the zoo act primarily as stressors for zoo-housed primates. Findings indicate that interactions with certain humans may be beneficial.