L ester E . F isher Center for the Study and Conservation of A pes

Abstract

The Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes is a multidisciplinary research center based at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, Illinois (United States) and named in honor of Dr. Lester Fisher, former veterinarian and director at this zoo. Since 2004, the Fisher Center has maintained a broad and varied research program, focusing on studies of ape behavior, biology, and cognition, using a range of non‐invasive methods and a comparative approach. In addition to the study of zoo‐housed apes, they have worked to study and advocate for privately owned chimpanzees living as pets and performers through their Project ChimpCARE initiative. They also support a growing conservation partnership with the Goualougo Triangle Ape Project aimed at protecting wild populations of apes in the Republic of Congo.

A unique zoo‐sanctuary collaboration for chimpanzees

“…Since then, chimpanzees have been housed in several exhibits, most recently in the Regenstein Center for African Apes, which is home to two mixed‐sex chimpanzee groups living in naturalistic indoor‐outdoor environments. The zoo is also home to the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, a multidisciplinary research group that focuses on the study, care and conservation of primates (Ross, ). In addition to studying the behavior, cognition and welfare of resident chimpanzees, the Fisher Center's activities extend beyond zoo grounds to the study and evaluation of chimpanzees in a range of captive settings throughout North America.…”

The history and status of cognitive research with great apes in the United States

“…In 2004, the Lincoln Park Zoo opened the Regenstein Center for Great Apes, which houses chimpanzees and gorillas (Ross, 2017). The facility focuses on comparative cognition, routinely presents cognitive tasks via touchsensitive computer interfaces (Ross, 2009;Ross, 2017) and has explored topics including tool use (Ross et al, 2010), the impact of a social model on ape memory (Howard et al, 2017), social tolerance and sharing (Calcutt et al 2014), and factors that impact the success of chimpanzee problem solving (Hopper et al, 2014). The philosophy of the Regenstein Center emphasizes welfare and structures all studies so that they are voluntary for the apes and conducted in view of visitors (Ross, 2017).…”

“…The facility focuses on comparative cognition, routinely presents cognitive tasks via touchsensitive computer interfaces (Ross, 2009;Ross, 2017) and has explored topics including tool use (Ross et al, 2010), the impact of a social model on ape memory (Howard et al, 2017), social tolerance and sharing (Calcutt et al 2014), and factors that impact the success of chimpanzee problem solving (Hopper et al, 2014). The philosophy of the Regenstein Center emphasizes welfare and structures all studies so that they are voluntary for the apes and conducted in view of visitors (Ross, 2017). Ross (2017) states that "research on display" offers the benefits of "transparency in the scientific methodology and promotes the importance of scientific research to a wide audience".…”

“…The philosophy of the Regenstein Center emphasizes welfare and structures all studies so that they are voluntary for the apes and conducted in view of visitors (Ross, 2017). Ross (2017) states that "research on display" offers the benefits of "transparency in the scientific methodology and promotes the importance of scientific research to a wide audience".…”

Does Exposure to Animal Cognition Research Influence the Zoo Visitor Experience?

“…In Chicago, the Lincoln Park Zoo Regenstein Center for African Apes also features research that the general public can observe. This research emphasizes animal welfare and structures all studies to be voluntary for the primates, which provides the general public with a better understanding of the methodology and importance of animal research (Ross, 2017). Zoo Atlanta also features an exhibit, the Orangutan Learning Tree, that allows visitors to witness cognitive skills of orangutans participating in research involving touchscreen computers .…”