Researchers using puzzle boxes, rain sticks and papier-mâché balls are studying captive gray wolves at the Oakland Zoo and the California Wolf Center to evaluate personality and problem-solving skills of the endangered animals.
The novel research out of University of California, Davis, which also incorporates hundreds of hours of video and observational surveys, is seeking to shed new light on the lives of gray wolves, how they interact as part of a pack and respond to strange, new things
Understanding more about the wolves can help in a variety of ways, from understanding mate compatibility and social structures in captivity to increasing awareness about the species and identifying wolves who could be reintroduced into the wild.Research at the Oakland Zoo's California Trail began in June for five weeks and moved to the California Wolf Center in San Diego County in early August.
The weeks were broken up between observing behavior and detailing interactions with the introduced objects. Additionally, the animal care staff completed personality surveys about the six wolves. Those surveys will be compared with behavioral observations to see if they match. The meat wasn't worth the uncertainty of the risk at first, though that gradually changed for some in the pack.
The California Wolf Center, which is home to 29 Mexican and four Northwestern gray wolves, is always seeking new research and data, and Ghavamian's study could help fulfill many of the organization's goals, said Ciera MacIsaac, the wolf care and reintroduction coordinator.
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