New Durham University study uses camera collars to reveal surprising diet and encounters of chacma baboons
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday 20 March 2024
-With images and videos-
A team of scientists from Durham University has uncovered surprising insights into the behaviour of wild baboons in South Africa using an innovative camera collar system.
The findings, published in the International Journal of Primatology, provide an unprecedented baboon’s-eye view of their eating habits and interactions with other species.
Researchers have discovered that baboons are much more opportunistic foragers than they realised.
The collar cameras allowed the researchers to literally see what a baboon sees - and they were eating antelope faeces.
The collar cameras recorded footage showing baboons carefully selecting and consuming the faeces from antelope species like kudu, impala and duiker.
Researchers suggest that they might gain nutrients from the faeces when food is scarce.
The cameras also revealed close encounters between baboons and unhabituated wildlife like banded mongooses, impala and nyala.
These animals would have fled if the data had been collected by human observation, a more traditional method of studying primate behaviour.
This pioneering study highlights how collar-cameras can uncover the intricate, unseen lives of wild primates for science and conservation.
Lead researcher of the study, Ben Walton of Durham University said: “Seeing the world through the eyes of these primates gave us unparalleled insight into their daily lives, including what they eat and how they interact with each other and other species.
“It has been exciting to explore the ways in which cameras such as these could improve our understanding of primate behaviour in future.”
Commenting on the findings, study co-author Professor Russell Hill of Durham University said: “Baboons are amongst the best studied primates.
“To uncover undocumented foraging behaviour in just a few days using these collar cameras was thus really surprising.
“I have been studying baboons for years, but this primate’s eye view gave me a totally different perspective on their behaviour.”
Researchers point out that this method has amazing potential to engage the public in research and the footage from these cameras was used in the BBC Natural History Unit documentary: Animals with Cameras.
The team developed the prototype collar cameras with the BBC Natural History Unit for the TV series Animals with Cameras.
They believe the technology has huge potential for primate research on activity budgets, diet, social dynamics and more.
Researchers can study predator-prey interactions and social behaviour in a completely natural, unbiased way.
ENDS
Media Information
Ben Walton from Durham University is available for interview and can be contacted on benjamin.j.walton@durham.ac.uk.
Alternatively, please contact Durham University Communications Office for interview requests on communications.team@durham.ac.uk or +44 (0)191 334 8623.
Source
‘On-primate cameras reveal undocumented foraging behaviour and interspecies interactions in chacma baboons (Papio ursinus)’, (2024), B Walton, L Findley and R Hill, International Journal of Primatology.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10764-024-00423-9
Graphics
Associated images and videos are available via the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/joq4xh8h9ws5tnrkl2jdu/h?rlkey=23rgjmwr4i28pe7f0ikpgxdv1&dl=0
About Durham University
Durham University is a globally outstanding centre of teaching and research based in historic Durham City in the UK.
We are a collegiate university committed to inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham and in the world.
We conduct research that improves lives globally and we are ranked as a world top 100 university with an international reputation in research and education (QS World University Rankings 2024).
We are a member of the Russell Group of leading research-intensive UK universities and we are consistently ranked as a top 10 university in national league tables (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, Guardian University Guide and The Complete University Guide).
For more information about Durham University visit: www.durham.ac.uk/about/
END OF MEDIA RELEASE – issued by Durham University Communications Office.
JOURNAL
International Journal of Primatology
SUBJECT OF RESEARCH
Animals
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