All creatures are not created equal. Some people are braver and more adept
at problem-solving than others, even within a same species. This is
confirmed
by our research into the
severely endangered
Bali myna, a unique bird that can only be found on the Indonesian island of
Bali.
On the island,
less than 50 adult Bali mynas may still be found in the natural dry woodland and grassland. To
increase the number of birds in the wild, conservationists are reintroducing
additional birds, albeit with varying degrees of success.
How effective these attempts are will depend on our ability to comprehend
how each species observes, analyzes, stores, and responds on the information
it receives (what scientists refer to as "cognition"). In fact, it may be
crucial to the survival of many endangered species.
In order to find food and suitable nesting locations, these birds will need
to travel communities, farms, and other human-dominated areas while avoiding
a variety of predators and other dangers. Their goal is to live, prosper,
and successfully reproduce.
In order to assist conservationists in choosing the most qualified Bali
mynas for release into the wild,
our study
has begun to pinpoint the traits that make specific individuals most fit for
this job.
In three UK zoos, we experimented with 22 Bali mynas to see how they would
react to unfamiliar foods like jelly and unusual items adjacent to things
they are used to eating every day like fruit and insects.
Additionally, we evaluated each bird's problem-solving skills by having
them raise a lid or pull a rope to access worms that were concealed. Each
bird's behavior revealed who was more adaptive and could have the best
chance of surviving in unfamiliar situations.
When an object they had never seen before was present, birds took longer to
contact familiar food, according to our research.
However, the birds were quicker to approach novel foods and objects when
other species, such as white-spotted laughing-thrushes or lilac-breasted
rollers, were in their aviaries, suggesting they can overcome fear when
competing for food. This fear of novelty was more pronounced in adult birds
than in juvenile birds.
Although individual birds differed in their behavior, they responded
consistently to a variety of strange foods and objects. The more courageous
birds were the ones who solved each new puzzle more quickly, indicating that
they could also be more adaptive after being freed.
Why this is good for conservation
Due to problems including habitat degradation, poaching, and pollution,
many animal species are in danger of going extinct. Reintroducing animals to
the habitats they formerly called home can help offset these losses.
Such reintroductions, however, frequently fail because captive animals
frequently struggle to obtain food, adjust to shifting environments,
identify predators, and reproduce. In reality, issues with
reintroductions have occurred in 30% of cases
as a result of animal behavior.
One important criterion for determining how likely an animal is to lead the
return of their species to the wild is how they make decisions, such as
where to build a nest, how easily they adapt their behavior to new
circumstances, and how they learn, including from other animals (both within
and outside their own species).
We discovered whether Bali mynas, generally the braver or more cautious
birds, are likely to be better suited for release, indicating two divergent
but ultimately successful survival strategies.
But in order to better prepare animals for surviving after release, this
kind of research may also record how each species acts in the wild.
Different people react differently to new or altered environments.
For example, braver captive quick foxes had a
worse chance of surviving
after being released than more cautious foxes, maybe because they are less
likely to avoid predators, other animals, or potentially dangerous things
left by humans, such traps.
These understandings can aid conservationists in teaching animals to
identify and react correctly to dangers like predators as well as to find
secure food or breeding grounds.
Alal (Hawaiian crows), which are thought to be extinct in the wild, may learn what to do if
they come across a predator in a forest with the aid of
pre-release training, according to research.
We can determine whether these
measures boost
survival rates by measuring their impact. The evidence is encouraging thus
far.
Work with young black-tailed prairie dogs demonstrated that
training with experienced
adults improved the canines' long-term survival after being released.
the extent to which animals can adapt
The effort to reintroduce species is picking up speed. Natural habitat
expansion is being overshadowed by the quick changes in land use, such as
the conversion of forests to farms or suburban developments.
It is crucial to comprehend how various species react to stresses like
urbanization and use this knowledge to promote conservation.
Even the most adaptive creatures have their limitations, and some stresses
can weaken positive qualities like a quick learner.
Birds living in
towns and cities
were found to be more opportunistic foragers, less afraid of predators, and
quicker to solve basic issues than those found in rural regions, according
to research on the invasive common myna in Australia.
However, it has been discovered that
rats and
Australian magpies' learning, memory, and sleep are all negatively impacted by urban noise
pollution, including the sound of traffic.
People from many disciplines may cooperate to increase the likelihood of
maintaining the natural environment by combining their efforts and insights
in study, conservation, and teaching.
This article is republished from
The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license. Read the
original article.
