An Orangutan Hangs Up a Tool for Future Use

Scientific Reports
Nicholas J Mulcahy

Abstract

Observational reports suggest that great apes perform tool-orientated actions in preparation for a tool's future use. Some of these observations suggest remarkable planning skills because the target for the tool's intended use was not present during the tool-orientated actions. Although these observational reports are intriguing, such planning ability has yet to be studied experimentally. To address this issue, I conducted two experiments that were inspired by an orangutan's innovative behaviour during a novel enrichment task: the orangutan spontaneously secured a tool he was using to rake-in rewards by hanging it up when it was not in use but would be required a short time later. Experiment 1 showed that securing the tool predominately occurred when the orangutan could anticipate the tool's future use, but rarely occurred when he could anticipate no further use for it. Experiment 2 indicated that the tool's atypical size and/or weight were possible factors that prompted the orangutan to hang up the tool. Overall, the findings suggest that an orangutan not only innovated a novel way of securing a tool, but did so in anticipation of its future use.

References

May 20, 2006·Science·Nicholas J Mulcahy, Josep Call
Feb 27, 2007·Current Biology : CB·Jill D Pruetz, Paco Bertolani
Oct 30, 2007·The Behavioral and Brain Sciences·Thomas Suddendorf, Michael C Corballis
Mar 13, 2009·Current Biology : CB·Mathias Osvath
Jul 1, 2009·Animal Cognition·Thomas SuddendorfEmma Collier-Baker
Aug 31, 2011·PloS One·Preston FoerderDiana Reiss
May 17, 2012·PloS One·Mathias Osvath, Elin Karvonen
Jun 13, 2012·Journal of Comparative Psychology·Nicholas J MulcahyT Suddendorf
Nov 13, 2012·Current Biology : CB·Thibaud GruberCarel van Schaik

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