AS/A2 Primate BehaviourInformation and guidance for teachers

Contents

Learning ObjectivesLesson planPlan a routeSuggested activities to link with sessionThings to arrange prior to visitThe day of your trip: arriving at the ZooYour teaching session

We have a group of over 30 chimpanzees here at Chester Zoo

Our male Sumatran Orang-utan, Puluh

Students at a tropical bird

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Lesson Plan

▪ CommunicationSpecial attention will be placed on Chimpanzee communication, with reference to their similarity with ourselves.

▪ Social behaviour The way animals structure themselves naturally (solitary or social; mating systems (monogamy, polygamy etc)).

▪ Intelligence Cognitive ability of non-human animals, including memory use, tool use, learnt behaviour etc.

▪ Reproductive behaviour Sexual selection, parent/offspring conflicts and sex ratios.

▪ Attachment Parental bonds.

AS/A2 Primate Behaviour

Learning Objectives

After attending this session, students will be able to:▪ explain the different groups of primates and their evolution ▪ understand a wide range of primate behaviours such as: communication, social structure, intelligence, reproductive behaviour and parental attachment

Links to SpecificationThis session would suit both Biology and Psychology students. ‘Primate Behaviour’ , available as both a classroom-based session and an ‘Out and About’ tour of the Zoo (in the winter months only. Both sessions will cover the following topics;

Inside ‘Butterfly Journey’ at Chester Zoo

Animal Contact Sessions

Some Discovery sessions may include a live animal and /or a selection of bio-artefacts. Please inform us in advance of any allergies or phobias that may be affected by this. An antibacterial foam handwash will be offered to all students at the end of the session. In order for this to be effective, teachers are asked to ensure that all students have clean hands on arrival at the Education Centre.

Plan a routeMany different primate species will be discussed during the session, including:

Chimpanzees, Orang-utan (Realm of the Red Ape), Ring-tailed Lemurs, Buffy-headed Capuchin, Marmosets and tamarins (Miniature Monkeys). Also Mandrills and Sulawesi Crested Macaque both of which are housed at the ‘Monkeys’ exhibit.

See map on the next page for the location of these exhibits

Primate Behaviour: Exhibits to Visit

MonkeysEducation Centre

Ring-tailed Lemurs

Buffy-headed Capuchins

Realm of the Red Ape

Chimpanzees

Miniature Monkeys

One of our young Sumatran Orang-utans born in 2004

Suggested activities to link with session

Before visit

▪ Some background knowledge of the above concepts would be useful. Pre-visit knowledge of some of the species would also be desirable (but by no means essential) to maximise students learning opportunities on the day.Note: binoculars may prove useful for close observation.

During visit

▪ Focus on a species and look at their complete range of behaviours. Primates are good for this as they are generally quite active and have a good repertoire of behaviours.

▪ Focus on a behaviour and discover species that display it. E.g. which species are monogamous? Which are polygamous? And why? Or look at sexual selection and the species that exhibit it and why?

▪ Using our Chimpanzee identification guide (available for download on our website or direct from the education division), follow and record the behaviour of individual Chimpanzees.

▪ Look for examples of intelligence. Primates are good for this – particularly for tool use (orang-utans, Chimps, monkeys).

Explorer TrailsA selection of curriculum- linked self-led Explorer trails available to download at http://www.chesterzoo.org/WhatWeDo/Education/Explorer%20Programme.aspx The AS/A2 Animal Behaviour Explorer trail links well with this classroom session. The monitoring of animal behaviour in the Zoo is an important way of measuring the welfare of a species.

One of our magnificent Lion-tailed Macaques

▪ Look for examples of communication. How would you interpret vocalisations/facial expressions/body language? Compare findings later with published work.

After visit

▪ If several students follow several different Chimps (as suggested above), results could be collated so that personalities/preferences/group dynamics could be unveiled.

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Things to arrange prior to visit

▪ Please check details on confirmation letter, any queries please call 01244 650205.

▪ Arrange a pre-visit to the Zoo, contact us 01244 650205/ 389444 for details.

▪ Arrange appropriate number of group leaders and collate contact details.

▪ Assign students to a group leader, ensure students and leaders know the running plan for the day, have staff contact details and map of the Zoo (click here).

▪ Ensure group leaders have a plan for the day including student names, time and location of teaching session (e.g. a copy of the confirmation letter) and where to meet, if necessary, after the session as well as a map of the Zoo.

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Special Educational NeedsWe welcome pupils with special needs. Please notify us of their requirements in advance, so that we can tailor our programmes to your pupils' needs. Additionally, please inform us of any wheelchair users in the group or any specific allergies that we should be aware of. For more information on disabled access please refer to the Zoo website at http://www.chesterzoo.org/Visit/GettingAround/Access%20facilities.aspx

Visitors strolling through ‘Realm of the Red Ape’

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Sheba is our oldest Asian Elephant at over 50 years of age!

The day of your trip: arriving at the Zoo

▪ Please help us to make your entrance to the Zoo as smooth as possible

▪ Allow plenty of time to get to and into the Zoo, it can take over 30 minutes to enter the Zoo and reach the Education Centre, particularly at busy times of the year.

▪ On arrival the group leader only should approach the main gate with the confirmation letter. Students and other staff should remain on the coach.

▪ This provides an ideal opportunity for another member of staff to run through itinerary for the day with students and helpers, to hand out work sheets, information, maps, talk times etc.

▪ Once the paperwork has been completed the group leader can collect the group from the coach to be counted into the Zoo by Gate Staff.

▪ There are toilets at the main entrance, both inside and outside the Zoo.

Rainy day – indoor enclosures

▪ The Aquarium, Tropical Realm, Fruit Bat Forest, Spirit of the Jaguar, Islands in Danger, Realm of the Red Ape and Butterfly Journey are all undercover, indoor exhibits.

▪ Additionally, macaws, Chimps, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, Monkeys, Miniature Monkeys and Cheetahs all have undercover viewing.

See map on the next page for location of exhibits.

Rainy Day Visits

Cheetah

Butterfly Journey

Islands in Danger

Fruit Bat Forest

Monkeys

Elephants of the Asian

ForestChimpanzees

Spirit of the Jaguar

Realm of the Red Ape

Tsavo Black Rhino Reserve

Secret World of the Okapi

Tropical Realm

Aquarium Grow Zone

Your teaching session

▪ Sessions are run in 3 classrooms all located in the Education Centre next to the Spirit of the Jaguar exhibit.

▪ Please be aware that it can take 30+ minutes to cross the Zoo particularly at busy times of year.

▪ On arrival at the Education Centre please wait outside the appropriate room (Cook, Columbus or Cousteau), as stated on your booking confirmation, for an Education Officer to greet you. Please don’t block doorways to education classrooms as there may be classes about to leave.

▪ Each teaching session will last approximately 50 minutes. There is plenty of open space for lunches outside the Education Centre. On rainy days there is an indoor picnic area next door to the Arara café near the Education Centre.

▪ There are toilets opposite the Spirit of the Jaguar house just past the Education Centre.

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An example of Chimpanzee behaviour

If you are delayed for any reason and may be late for your teaching session please contact 01244 650205/ 389444, we may be able to help!

If you have found this information useful or think there is something that we could add to help your day run smoothly please let us know at education@chesterzoo.org

Enjoy your visit!