199-1- Bt56n/ ,,. , r, 1w. t Linking Observation and Conservation: 10 Baboon Research and Conservation at Brookfield Zoo Su e Margulis, Ph.D. Associate in Research Brookfield Zoo A team of scientists and students, most important, ongoing research headed by Brookfield Zoo Research projects ever undertaken on pri­ Curator Jeanne Altmann, has been mate behavior and ecology: the studying baboon behavior and ecology Amboseli Baboon Research Project. for over 30 years as part of the Amboseli Baboon Research Project Better Behavioral Methodology in Amboseli National Park, Kenya. As Stuart began his studies of This long-term research project has baboons, Jeanne occupied her time contributed to our basic understanding by examining the methodology of primate behavior and social organi­ behind naturalistic behavioral zation, and helped to define and research. A fairly unstructured strengthen the role that behavioral enterprise, behavioral research research can and does play in con­ depended on the astute observa­ servation efforts. The Amboseli Baboon tions of field researchers, who Research Project has received the sup­ simply observed the animals and port of the Chicago Zoological Society noted any behavior that seemed since 1985. important. In the case of baboon research, baboon males tend to be In 1963, behavioral ecologist Stuart bigger, louder, and attract more Altmann, accompanied by his wife attention than do females. Not Jeanne and their young son, set off surprisingly, most early research for the Amboseli Game Reserve in tended to focus on males as the Kenya to study yellow baboons core of the group. Jeanne Altmann's work with yellow (Papio cynocephalus). Stuart would baboons in Amboseli began in 1963 as To truly understand an animal's a research assistant for her husband Stuart. observe and follow individual behavior, a scientist would have It was then that she began to refine animals to develop a clear under­ observation techniques that refocused to follow it 24-hours-a-day, standing of the social and environ­ the field of behavioral research. 7-days-a-week-an unrealistic mental factors that influence technique. Jeanne and Stuart were baboon life. Although she would confident that they could develop serve the project as a research assis­ a better way to collect behavioral tant, Jeanne, whose background data. Surely, there was a way to was in mathematics, was not a focus behavioral studies so that major player. She never dreamed researchers could compare behav­ that the research would one day ioral information collected on become her life's work, nor that different animals. Jeanne devel­ they were embarking on one of the oped a set of observational 11 Female baboons inherit their dominance rank from their mothers. A female's rank can influence access to food and other resources, and remains little changed throughout her life. t: ~ ] § .......-- ........~~ techniques, which she called primate) societies. Females usually "observational sampling." By stay in the groups into which they conducting a series of short, but are born (their natal groups), and systematic and structured observa­ maintain long-term relationships tions, researchers could draw and dominance hierarchies. conclusions about what animals Grooming reinforces these bonds. do the rest of the time. Jeanne Males, who emigrate from their formalized her methods in a land­ natal groups when they reach mark paper published in 1974 that maturity, don't maintain such refocused behavioral research. strong social relationships. Based on these now formally Jeanne began work on a doctorate defined methods, a very interesting in human development at the picture of baboon behavior and University of Chicago. Six social interaction began to emerge. thousand miles from Chicago, It soon became apparent that the Arnboseli baboon population females, and not males, formed provided the ideal research the core of baboon (and many other subjects for this thesis work. 12 BISON I Linking Observation and Conservation Jeanne focused her early research garnered the support of the growth, and development have on the development of baboon Chicago Zoological Society. Thus become a part of the project. infants and the influence of the began a long and mutually benefi­ Researchers found their answer social organization on mothers and cial relationship between the in a neat little package left behind their offspring. She observed that world's leading expert on baboons by the baboons: feces. The amount baboon mothers varied in their and Brookfield Zoo. Today, this of knowledge that can be gained mothering styles (much as human research continues to make notable from fecal analysis-information parents do), with some mothers contributions to baboon conserva­ about genetics, hormones, nutri­ being very restrictive and protec­ tion and education. tion, and health-is both surprising tive, and others allowing their and worth the humbling effort infants more freedom. Some of A New Revolution in Research of collection. the protective mothers were low­ Landmark discoveries like these This developing field of scatology ranking females whose infants are made through careful observa­ (the study of scat) has opened were likely to be harassed, and tion. Researchers at Amboseli many doors that allow scientists the laid back, or "laissez faire" make it a point to observe baboon to gather detailed information on mothers were high-ranking females behavior, not impact it. Taking baboons without disturbing them. whose infants were less likely to this high road makes obtaining Scats contain DNA that enable sci­ be harassed. some kinds of information from entists to determine paternity and the baboons nearly impossible. In baboon societies, daughters hormones that allow researchers to Never underestimate the creativity inherit their mother's dominance evaluate stress levels. This exciting of a behavioral researcher, how­ rank-daughters of low-ranking new addition to the field of behav­ ever. Research on genetics, mothers are low-ranking, daugh­ ioral research has become possible endocrinology (hormones), ters of high-ranking mothers are high-ranking. Position within this dominance hierarchy for female baboons is very important: it affects her access to resources, like food. The rank of mothers matters much less for that of their sons as they change rank frequently as adults within their new groups. Since high-ranking daughters benefit more from social position than sons or low-ranking daughters, Jeanne wondered if high-ranking mothers rear more daughters than sons and if low-ranking females rear more sons than daughters. Her hypothe­ sis proved true. In 1979, Jeanne completed her doctoral thesis based on this research, and became the first person in University of Chicago history to receive a Ph.D. in human development without ever studying humans. In 1985, Jeanne joined the Brookfield Zoo staff and the Amboseli Baboon Research Project The rank of baboon mothers matter less to their sons. Male baboons may change rank several times during their lives. 13 through Brookfield Zoo and the baboon groups will come away Amboseli research group cultivat­ from the experience with a better Ecotourists to Kenya enjoy the ing many collaborative relation­ understanding of the many pres­ ships with scientists around the sures on this region. The Amboseli vacation of a lifetime, viewing world. The information it yields ecosystem is home to Maasai megaherbivores such as giraffes also provides a baseline for health herdsmen and a wealth of African and elephants, predators such as and behavior that allow Brookfield wildlife, both of which bring and other zoos to examine their tourists and money into the local big cats, and prey in a natural success in husbandry and health economy. Lodges now dot the environment. But, even tourists care for their animals. landscape in and around Amboseli. armed only with cameras can Ecotourism is a wonderful way to The Problems With Ecotourism communicate conservation objec­ impact the environment in sub­ Tourists traveling to Kenya who are tives, and it brings money and jobs stantial and negative ways. fortunate enough to listen to Jeanne to the local community, but not all Altmann or one of her colleagues aspects of tourism are beneficial to Brookfield Zoo supports respon­ speak and to see the famous the local environment. sible ecotourism by requiring each business that offers services or accommodations to Brookfield Zoo tour participants to meet the zoo's strict ecological require­ ments. These include minimizing their impact and that of their guests on the environment and local wildlife. This past June, a Brookfield Zoo "Family Safari" to Kenya visited Amboseli National Park, where visitors from the Chicago area were able to see some of the baboon groups studied by Jeanne and her colleagues. Tour partici­ pants rose before sunrise and joined Jeanne at her research site to see how baboons start their day. Jeanne returned to the lodge later that evening to answer ques­ tions about baboons, her research, life in the field, Kenyan culture, and conservation issues. Living a traditional lifestyle, Maasai families traverse Amboseli with their cattle. 14 BISON I Linking Observation and Conservation Grooming is an important social behavior that establishes and reinforces bonds between group members. With the expansion of lodges long run, the baboons usually lose came an increase in lodge-related these conflicts. Jeanne's efforts to activities, like traffic (tourist vans) persuade the lodge operators to and garbage. One group of alter their behavior (dumping baboons found the lure of the trash) so that the baboons would garbage dump too appealing, and alter theirs (feeding on trash) settled in for the long run. This have met with occasional success. Lodge Group has become the Researchers have submitted recom­ wildlife equivalent of couch pota­ mendations to Park management toes. Jeanne, her assistants, and for responsible ecotourism policies former student Philip Muruthi, and advocated consumer educa­ studied the Lodge Group, and tion. In the meantime, the Lodge found that they spend less time Group continues to feed on the foraging and feeding than their discards from the tourist lodges.