On-primate Cameras Reveal Undocumented Foraging Behaviour and Interspecies Interactions in Chacma Baboons ( Papio ursinus )

Walton, Ben J.; Findlay, Leah J; Hill, Russell A

Abstract

Historically, direct observation by human observers has been the primary method for studying primate behaviour. However, human observation may alter the behaviour of even habituated primates and that of other animals in their environment (LaBarge et al., 2020). Observers may miss rare or subtle behaviours, particularly if maintaining recommended observation distances (Moll et al., 2007). Remote methods, including on-animal cameras, can overcome some of these limitations.

Cameras have been deployed on a range of animals to study behaviour, although primarily on larger-bodied species. However, the use of cameras on primates has been limited (Fuentes et al., 2014). Yet on-animal cameras have the potential to reveal important aspects of primate behaviour from a “primate-eye perspective”, with cameras collecting data continuously, close-up, and at high resolution. The method thus has the potential to give exciting and novel insights into primate behaviour.

We deployed custom-made, high-resolution, primate-borne video cameras on chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) in South Africa to gain insights into their behaviour and foraging in an agricultural landscape and to illustrate the potential advantages of this method, with a focus on undocumented foraging behaviours and interspecific interactions. Chacma baboons are omnivorous and occasionally prey on small antelope. Their flexible diets also may incorporate alternative anthropogenic food resources from agricultural areas (Walton et al., 2021). Although previously studied by using bio-loggers (Walton et al., 2021), these were without integrated video recording.

Citation

Walton, B. J., Findlay, L. J., & Hill, R. A. (2024). On-primate Cameras Reveal Undocumented Foraging Behaviour and Interspecies Interactions in Chacma Baboons ( Papio ursinus ). International Journal of Primatology, 45(4), 882-886. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-024-00423-9

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 21, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Mar 19, 2024
• Publication Date: Aug 1, 2024
• Deposit Date: Feb 22, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 21, 2024
• Journal: International Journal of Primatology
• Print ISSN: 0164-0291
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-8604
• Publisher: Springer
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 45
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 882-886
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-024-00423-9
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2272682