A ‘monkey media player’ which lets zoo animals choose between video and sound files suggests they may prefer to spend more of their time listening than watching.The player is the latest development in ongoing zoo enrichment research from animal-compu
A ‘monkey media player’ which lets zoo animals choose between video and sound files suggests they may prefer to spend more of their time listening than watching.
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VIDEO: Scientists from Aalto University, in collaboration with Korkeasaari Zoo, have designed and built an on-demand video device for white-faced saki monkeys to activate as and when they like. While enrichment. view more
Credit: Anna Berg/Aalto University
Helsinki, Finland Technology helps humans maintain connections, get work done, and relax after a long day. How it can best improve the lives of animals, particularly those in captivity, however, has remained an open question.
Scientists from Aalto University, in collaboration with Korkeasaari Zoo, have designed and built an on-demand video device for white-faced saki monkeys to activate as and when they like. While enrichment systems for zoo animals have been around for some time, very few offer animals the ability to choose when and how they use the device, even though choice and control are known to promote animal welfare.