American Journal of Primatology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 87(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Recent research highlights the behavioral flexibility of wild chimpanzees in response to human-induced changes their environment, including agricultural and infrastructural development. The expansion road networks threatens chimpanzee populations across Africa. Studying road-crossing behavior, especially outside protected areas where impacts are greatest, helps identify factors influencing choices flexibility. This study seeks gain a deeper understanding how navigate busy roads assess danger posed by roads. Such insights needed develop effective conservation strategies regions facing escalating human impact, recommendations for design management traffic on existing future Using dataset 129 video-recorded crossings spanning 38 months, we analyzed adjustments Bulindi, Uganda, when crossing recently paved, main within home range. generalized linear mixed models, investigated risk perception, protective cooperative behaviors, vigilance, progression order during crossings. We identified variations behavior according age-sex individuals, group composition, level risk. found that Bulindi exhibit reduce risks collision or close encounters with humans road, as previously described. However, they were less vigilant than expected. suggest have developed tolerance presented owing long history it before was tarmacked widened, familiarity local people motor traffic. Our results provide further evidence chimpanzees. remain highly risky large mammals like great apes, necessitating measures mitigate impact development this other endangered species (e.g. speed bumps, police enforcement, public awareness raising).

Language: Английский