Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Zoo life boosts object exploration in orangutans

Wild and zoo-housed orangutans explore the world differently, study finds

BECause they are bored!

Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior

Orangutan with wood — image:
Wild juvenile orangutan called Eden manipulating wood
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Credit: S. Vilela

A new study comparing wild and zoo-housed Sumatran orangutans reveals that life in a zoo significantly alters how orangutans interact with their environment. Researchers analyzed over 12,000 instances of daily exploratory object manipulation (EOM)—the active manipulation and visual inspection of objects associated with learning and problem-solving—across 51 orangutans aged 0.5 to 76 years. The findings show that orangutans living in zoos engage in more frequent, more diverse, and more complex exploration than their wild counterparts.

“Our study shows that orangutans in zoos not only explore more, but they also explore differently,” said Isabelle Laumer, first author of the study. “What’s especially fascinating is that even when exploring the same kinds of objects, zoo-housed orangutans showed a richer repertoire of actions and were more likely to use tools or manipulate multiple objects at the same time.”

The study compared exploratory object manipulation (EOM) behaviors in wild and zoo-housed orangutans across a wide age range. Data were collected at the Suaq Balimbing research site in Indonesia from 33 wild individuals aged between six months and 76 years and at four zoos in Germany and Switzerland from 24 individuals aged between seven months and 49 years. In total, ~12,000 EOM events were analyzed.

The study showed that zoo-housed orangutans explore the objects in their surroundings more frequently than wild orangutans whilst there was no difference in exploration duration when individuals did explore. Wild orangutans primarily explored naturally occurring objects like plants, bark, and sticks, while zoo-housed orangutans engaged with a wider variety of enrichment items such as plastic toys, puzzles, and stackable objects designed to encourage manipulation and cognitive engagement. Importantly, the age at which orangutans first engaged in specific types of exploration was consistent across both settings, suggesting an innate developmental sequence. However, zoo orangutans continued to explore into adulthood, while wild individuals’ EOM declined sharply around weaning age at about 8 years of age — likely due to the demands of survival in the wild, where foraging and constant vigilance leave little time for exploration.

In human infants, object exploration enables learning about physical properties such as texture and weight while stimulating cognitive and motor development—a pattern observed in many non-human animals as well. The heightened exploration may enhance cognitive flexibility and problem-solving skills in zoo-housed orangutans, as they interact with varied enrichment items and have more time and energy to devote to learning through exploration.

“These findings underscore how profoundly the environment influences animal behavior and cognitive development,” said Caroline Schuppli, senior author of the study. “And it also offers unique opportunities—by comparing wild and zoo-housed animals, we can better understand the full extent of a species’ cognitive potential.”

Journal

Scientific Reports

DOI

10.1038/s41598-025-97926-z

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Wild and zoo-housed orangutans differ in how they explore objects

Article Publication Date

30-Apr-2025

Global virus network issues urgent call to action to mitigate the rising threat of H5N1 avian influenza

Top global virologists publish a comprehensive analysis and advocate for a multi-government initiative in the Lancet Regional Health—Americas

Global Virus Network

Today, the Global Virus Network (GVN), representing eminent human and animal virologists from 80+ Centers of Excellence and Affiliates in 40+ countries, published a comprehensive analysis and call-to-action in The Lancet Regional Health—Americas on the North American avian influenza virus, or H5N1, outbreak. The GVN calls on world governments to address the threat of H5N1 avian influenza by enhancing surveillance, implementing biosecurity measures, and preparing for potential human-to-human transmission.

"Understanding the current landscape of H5N1 infections is critical for effective prevention and response," said Sten H. Vermund, MD, PhD, chief medical officer of the GVN and dean of the USF Health College of Public Health at the University of South Florida, USA. "The virus’ ability to infect both animals and humans, combined with recent genetic changes, underscores the importance of proactive surveillance and rapid response measures."

The outbreak has affected nearly 1000 dairy cow herds and resulted in more than 70 human cases, including the first confirmed death in the U.S. The U.S. poultry industry is at significant risk, particularly in areas with high-density farming and where personal protective practices may be lacking. The highly pathogenic influenza virus is now circulating in all 50 states and Canada, resulting in the loss or culling of more than 168 million poultry in the U.S. since 2022. While human-to-human transmission is not documented, experts warn that virus mutations and reassortments, or combining two flu viruses, could increase transmissibility.

"Genomic surveillance is pivotal in tracking viral evolution and informing response strategies,” said Marion Koopmans, DVM, PhD, center of excellence director at the GVN and head of the department of viroscience at Erasmus Medical Center, Netherlands. “Continued investment in surveillance at the human-animal interface, and immediate sharing of unusual field observations and sequence data is essential for researchers worldwide to monitor virus dynamics effectively." Dr. Koopmans is a U.S. and Dutch National Academy of Sciences member. She is highly regarded for her research on emerging infectious diseases and as a scientific advisor to policymakers at national and international levels.

The GVN virologists underscore the need for improved pandemic preparedness, drawing on lessons learned from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and previous outbreaks. They advocate for a multi-faceted approach to pandemic preparedness, which includes:

Enhanced Surveillance: Continuous monitoring of animals, including testing of milk and wastewater and individuals working with infected animals, to track virus evolution that may lead to human-to human transmissibility. The GVN calls for more comprehensive state-wide testing in the U.S. and internationally.
Faster Genomic Data Sharing: Accelerating the release of genomic data to track virus evolution and spatial transmission, fostering collaboration among global research networks.
Improved Farm Biosecurity: Using personal protective equipment (PPE) and strict farm cleaning protocols to minimize human exposure and prevent virus spread.
Preparedness Plans for the Roll-Out of Tests: Advocating for self-administered diagnostic tests for farm workers, supported by healthcare access for frontline medical staff, to enhance early detection.
Strengthening Public Health Infrastructure: Increased funding and support for response mechanisms, particularly in high-risk regions, to better manage outbreaks.
Investment in Phenotype Prediction from Genetic Data: Invest in predicting the phenotypes of avian influenza viruses from genetic data, as key traits are difficult to predict solely from genomic sequences.
Investment in Rapid Vaccine Development: Encouraging the development and rapid deployment of vaccines for humans and animals, focusing on farm workers.
Preparedness Plan for the Roll-Out of Vaccines and Therapeutics: Prepositioned clinical studies to rapidly assess the properties of emerging virus strains and potential treatments.
Preparedness Plan to Allow for Rapid Clinical Studies: Focus on enabling rapid clinical studies to assess key properties of new pandemic strains, evaluate new vaccines and treatments, and support modeling efforts.
International Collaboration: Supporting a coordinated global response to track data, share research, and prepare for emerging viral threats to reduce community vulnerabilities and improve response strategies.

"Initiatives should focus on enhancing biosecurity measures in agricultural settings and educating the public about safe handling of poultry products and potential risks associated with contact with infected animals," said Peter Palese, PhD, center of excellence director at the GVN and Horace W. Goldsmith Professor of the department of microbiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Palese is a world leader in influenza research and a U.S. National Academy of Sciences member.

“Given the growing circulation of H5N1 among mammals, the GVN calls for urgent efforts to understand and interrupt transmission in cattle through herd management and potential vaccination,” said Ab Osterhaus, DVM, PhD, center of excellence director at the GVN and founding director of the Center of Infection Medicine and Zoonosis Research at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany. “Strengthening surveillance at animal-human interfaces is crucial, as current monitoring efforts are insufficient to guide effective prevention strategies.” Dr. Osterhaus is internationally regarded for his work on animal viruses, SARS, MERS, and H5N1. He is a co-founder of the global One Health Community, and a Dutch and German National Academies of Sciences member.

While some surveillance of H5N1 has been carried out, the GVN highlights the lack of comprehensive testing and monitoring to assess the virus's spread and risks to public health.

“A robust nationwide monitoring system is essential to quickly detect, and quarantine affected animals and implement preventive measures to curb further spread and human infections,” said Elyse Stachler, PhD, member of the GVN and a research scientist at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, USA. “Further, we believe it is crucial to maintain trust and stakeholder buy-in for monitoring programs, particularly from farm workers.”

"We are advocating for community-driven strategies to ensure the successful implementation of vaccines, if necessary,” said Christian Bréchot, MD, PhD, vice chair of the board of directors and president emeritus of the GVN and director of the Microbiomes Institute and senior associate dean for research in global affairs in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, USA. “The situation with H5N1 demands heightened vigilance and collaboration across public health sectors. Early detection and robust surveillance are critical to prevent further spread."

About the Global Virus Network

The Global Virus Network (GVN) is a worldwide coalition comprising 80+ Virology Centers of Excellence and Affiliates across 40+ countries, whose mission is to facilitate pandemic preparedness against viral pathogens and diseases that threaten public health globally. GVN advances knowledge of viruses through (i) data-driven research and solutions, (ii) fostering the next generation of virology leaders, and (iii) enhancing global resources for readiness and response to emerging viral threats. GVN provides the essential expertise required to discover and diagnose viruses that threaten public health, understand how such viruses spread illnesses, and facilitate the development of diagnostics, therapies, and treatments to combat them. GVN coordinates and collaborates with local, national, and international scientific institutions and government agencies to provide real-time virus informatics, surveillance, and response resources and strategies. GVN's pandemic preparedness mission is achieved by focusing on Education & Training, Qualitative & Quantitative Research, and Global Health Strategies & Solutions.

The GVN is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, please visit www.gvn.org

Media Contact:

Nora Samaranayake, GVN

nsamaranayake@gvn.org

Journal

The Lancet Regional Health - Americas

Method of Research

Commentary/editorial

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Enhancing the response to avian influenza in the US and globally

Article Publication Date

28-Apr-2025

Strengthening global pandemic preparedness: The urgent need for investment, collaboration, and action

A statement by the Global Virus Network

Global Virus Network

According to research by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank presented to the Group of Twenty (G20), or international forum of major economies, in 2022, an estimated USD $31.1 billion in annual funding is required to establish a comprehensive Pandemic Preparedness and Response (PPR) system. This falls at least USD $10.5 billion short of what is needed today to meet global preparedness requirements. To close this gap, urgent focus must be placed on strengthening systems that protect humanity from future, inevitable pandemic threats.

Past pandemics have shown that failing to invest in sustainable health infrastructure can devastate healthcare systems, economies, and societies. Moreover, the reductions in global health programs and grant funding have led to major setbacks in pandemic preparedness. Without stable and reliable funding, the world risks losing hard-won progress in disease surveillance, research, training, and emergency response capabilities.

As evidenced by the ongoing avian influenza (H5N1) outbreak, and described in GVN’s Lancet Regional Health—Americas publication, which was published Monday, mutations and genetic reassortment, where two influenza viruses combine, pose a significant risk of increased transmissibility and mortality, and the potential emergence of another global pandemic. These risks are further exacerbated by inadequate biosafety measures and the absence of a robust, coordinated global surveillance system capable of detecting and responding to such threats in real time.

To mitigate these dangers, the GVN believes immediate action is crucial to close the critical gaps in global preparedness and ensure a world ready to respond to future pandemics GVN will continue to promote sustained investment in pandemic preparedness throughout the world, especially for research and training, to ensure scientists, public health experts, and first responders have the necessary resources to detect, prevent, and control viral threats. Strengthening partnerships with global health organizations, governments, and the scientific community remains essential in addressing cross-border health challenges.

Additionally, clear and transparent communication and efforts to deal with a lack of knowledge and understanding, counter misinformation, and address vaccine hesitancy are critical to ensuring public health, restoring public trust, and ensuring compliance with health measures. The rapid spread of misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now in measles outbreaks seen globally, highlights the necessity of reliable, science-based public health information.

About the Global Virus Network

The GVN is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, please visit www.gvn.org

Method of Research

Commentary/editorial

Rape boosts risk of incarceration in women 4-to-10-fold, new study suggests

The Extreme Sexual Victimization Histories of Women in Prison and the Significance of Race

A survey of more than 700 incarcerated women offers a rare glimpse into their sexual violence histories

The first-of-a-kind study, 15 years in the making , also found that rape significantly increased a young woman’s chances of dropping out of high school—another known risk factor for incarceration.

Peer-Reviewed Publication

University of Colorado at Boulder

Women in prison are four times as likely to report having been raped in their lifetime than those who are not incarcerated and 10 times as likely to report having been raped as a child, according to newly published research by a University of Colorado Boulder criminologist.

It was published in the journal Criminal Justice and Behavior.

“The big picture finding here is that being raped overwhelmingly increases your chances of going to prison,” said lead author Joanne Belknap, professor emeritus in the Department of Ethnic Studies at CU Boulder. “Our research suggests that this thing that can happen to you when you’re a kid, and maybe you don’t even know what it is or how to name it at the time, can influence the entire trajectory of your life.”

Counting the forgotten

The study is not the first to find that victims of sexual violence are at greater risk of ending up behind bars.

As far back as 1918, a published account of life in a Pennsylvania prison found an “extremely high prevalence” of past sexual victimization among women there. One 2020 review of several surveys found that as many as 8 in 10 incarcerated women report having been sexually assaulted in some way.

That compares to about one in four in the general public.

Such assaults, some research suggests, can boost risk of substance use disorders and mental health issues, potentially leading to criminal activity.

Belknap has spent decades working in carceral institutions, conducting research and workshops, teaching college courses, and advocating for women, men and children behind bars. She’s heard the stories time and again.

She recalls one woman in a prison workshop telling her and the other participants how a childhood minister had raped her when she was five years old. He appeared at the prison where she was incarcerated years later asking for forgiveness. She told him: “I can’t do that. I feel like I never would have been here if you hadn’t done that to me.”

But while anecdotes are common, researchers struggle to get solid data because the Centers for Disease Control’s ongoing National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) does not include women living in mental institutions or prisons.

‘These are our moms, our sisters and our aunts’

For the newly published study, co-author Cathy McDaniels Wilson, an Ohio-based psychologist, set out to fill that gap.

In 2010, she distributed surveys to a random sample of women in Ohio’s four state prisons. Wilson sat down with women in small groups as they filled out the questionnaire, which covered detailed measures of sexual violence, from unwanted kissing and touching to legal but inappropriate sexual coercion and rape.

Aware that the questions could be traumatizing, the researchers ensured that participants had access to counseling afterward.

In all, 716 incarcerated women participated.

Many tearfully thanked Wilson afterward, saying they were grateful to finally be counted.

“We often don't think of being inclusive of those who are incarcerated, but it is important to look at the trajectory that may have gotten them there,” said Wilson. “Many of these women experience abuse in the home, end up running away, on drugs, engaged in prostitution or other activities. These are our moms, our sisters and our aunts.”

With no designated funding for the project, Belknap—a sexual assault survivor herself— made it her mission to continue cleaning and scouring the data and get access to the NISVS data for the general population in Ohio at the same time. Then she compared the two.

“This is unprecedented. There’s never been a sexual abuse study that looks at the same geographic region at the same time asking very similar questions,” said Belknap.

The study found that, across every one of the 13 comparable measures of sexual violence analyzed, women in Ohio prisons were significantly more likely to experience sexual violence than women in surrounding communities. This gap was typically widest for the most severe sexual abuses.

Specifically, 17% of women in the general population reported that they had been raped at some point. Among incarcerated women, that number was 70%. Nearly one-third of incarcerated women reported being raped before age 11, compared to less than 2% of those who were not incarcerated. Half of incarcerated women reported being raped by age 18, more than 10 times what women in surrounding communities reported.

Across both samples, women who were raped before age 11 were 15% less likely to graduate from high school.

“To be able to document this in such detail, no matter what time period it is from, is so important,” she said.

The study was only conducted for one year in one place.

But she and Wilson, who now counsels sexual violence survivors in her private practice, are confident that if they were to do the survey again today, the results would be similar.

They urge other researchers to follow their lead and begin including incarcerated women across the country as they track sexual violence in the U.S.

They also call for greater support for survivors of all ages, both inside and outside of prison.

Journal

Criminal Justice and Behavior

DOI

10.1177/00938548241310365

Method of Research

Survey

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

The Extreme Sexual Victimization Histories of Women in Prison and the Significance of Race

Noto quake 3D model adds dimension to understand earthquake dynamics

University of Tokyo

3D fault geometry of the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake and photos showing the spatial variation of ground uplift taken at different ports — image:
Scientists used supercomputer simulation to reveal the underlying mechanism by which the irregular fault geometry, characterized by multisegments, controlled the variation of the fault slip and resulting uplift. Uplift varied from 1-2 meters in some areas, to as much as 4-5 meters in others.
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Credit: Ryosuke Ando, The University of Tokyo

On New Year’s Day 2024, a massive 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in north central Japan, resulting in extensive damage in the region caused by uplift, when the land rises due to shifting tectonic plates. The observed uplift, however, varied significantly, with some areas experiencing as much as a 5-meter rise of the ground surface. To better understand how the characteristics of the affected fault lines impact earthquake dynamics, researchers in Japan used recently developed simulations to make a detailed model of the fault. The findings could help develop models to simulate scenarios of different earthquakes and mitigate disasters in the future.

The results were published in the journal Earth, Planets and Space as a Frontier Letter.

“During the Noto Peninsula earthquake, we saw devastating uplift in some areas compared to others. In this study, we set out to understand the mechanism controlling the magnitude and spatial and temporal variation of fault slip and the resulting ground surface uplift,” said Ryosuke Ando, an associate professor in the Graduate School of Science at the University of Tokyo and lead author of the current study.

Researchers wanted to develop a model of the 2024 earthquake that built on previous research and used observational data obtained before the earthquake occurred, such as characteristics of the faults involved and seismic activity preceding the devastating quake. If a simulation based on the real-world fault characteristics could accurately model what happened during the earthquake, it would help researchers understand how fault geometry — which describes characteristics such as the shape, orientation, different angles (including what are known as dip and strike) and direction of motion (slip) of the fault — affects earthquake dynamics.

There are three major faults involved in the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake. They are what are known as conjugate faults, i.e., faults with opposite sense of lateral movement. Two of them (the Monzen Fault, marked as Seg. 1 in the figures, and the Noto Peninsula Hoku-gan Fault Zones, Segs. 2-4) are southeast dipping, while the third (the Toyama Trough Sei-en Fault, Seg. 5) is northwest dipping. Dipping refers to the direction of the fault’s incline. Observational data on fault traces (where faults intersect with the earth’s surface) and the fault dipping angle were used to build the 3D fault geometry model. Data from previous seismic activity were used to establish the model of stress conditions. This area was subject to a localized, concentrated seismic swarm of smaller, shallower quakes for years leading up to the 2024 earthquake.

The simulation, developed with observational data of the fault geometry, was able to reproduce the variation in uplift that occurred during the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake. In some areas, uplift caused significant damage, while in others the effect was not as severe due to less prominent uplift. Based on the model of the Noto quake, vertical displacement was concentrated near the fault traces where the fault locally deviates from its overall horizontal orientation. This points to the fault geometry being key to how the earthquake affects the land.

“Our simulation with a supercomputer enabled the analysis of the three-dimensional fault geometry, which is irregularly shaped. We revealed that the fault geometry controlled the overall process through the relative fault orientations to the compressional force acting in the tectonic plate in this region,” said Ando.

Looking ahead, the researchers are considering how this model could be used to develop better dynamic rupture scenarios for future earthquakes. “By demonstrating the potential of simulations with detailed models of fault geometries, we have shown how the characteristics of the fault slip pattern can be constrained before the occurrence of large earthquakes. We expect this finding to lead to building a method to assess the characteristics of hazards caused by future large earthquakes,” said Ando.

###

Research paper:

Ryosuke Ando, Yo Fukushima, Keisuke Yoshida and Kazutoshi Imanishi, “Nonplanar 3D Fault Geometry Controls the Spatiotemporal Distributions of Slip and Uplift: Evidence from the Mw 7.5 2024 Noto Peninsula, Japan, Earthquake,” Earth, Planets and Space: April 29, 2025, DOI: 10.1186/s40623-025-02187-9

Link: https://earth-planets-space.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40623-025-02187-9

Funding:

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science; Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology

Credit

Ryosuke Ando, The University of Tokyo

About the University of Tokyo

The University of Tokyo is Japan's leading university and one of the world's top research universities. The vast research output of some 6,000 researchers is published in the world's top journals across the arts and sciences. Our vibrant student body of around 15,000 undergraduate and 15,000 graduate students includes over 4,000 international students. Find out more at https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/ or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @UTokyo_News_en

Journal

Earth Planets and Space

DOI

10.1186/s40623-025-02187-9

Method of Research

Computational simulation/modeling

Article Title

Nonplanar 3D Fault Geometry Controls the Spatiotemporal Distributions of Slip and Uplift: Evidence from the Mw 7.5 2024 Noto Peninsula, Japan, Earthquake

Article Publication Date

29-Apr-2025

LA REVUE GAUCHE - Left Comment

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Zoo life boosts object exploration in orangutans

Journal

DOI

Method of Research

Subject of Research

Article Title

Article Publication Date

Global virus network issues urgent call to action to mitigate the rising threat of H5N1 avian influenza

Journal

Method of Research

Subject of Research

Article Title

Article Publication Date

Strengthening global pandemic preparedness: The urgent need for investment, collaboration, and action

Method of Research

Rape boosts risk of incarceration in women 4-to-10-fold, new study suggests

Counting the forgotten

‘These are our moms, our sisters and our aunts’

Journal

DOI

Method of Research

Subject of Research

Article Title

Noto quake 3D model adds dimension to understand earthquake dynamics

Credit

Journal

DOI

Method of Research

Article Title

Article Publication Date

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