A television documentary to be shown on Wednesday (27 January) follows behavioural scientist Betsy Herrelko of the University of Stirling as she observes chimpanzees at Edinburgh Zoo.
Betsy and the chimpanzees are set to become stars of the screen when they are featured in a BBC Natural World documentary.
The 11 chimps have been taking part in a study called The Chimpcam Project for the last 18 months. In this joint collaboration between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), the University of Stirling and Burning Gold
Productions, the chimps experience video streaming for the first time, learn how to use touch-screen technology and are even given a chimp-proof camera to shoot their own footage.
The documentary explores the extent to which the chimps are aware of what they are seeing and filming and, for the first time, we are able to see the world through a chimp's eyes.
Betsy Herrelko explained how the chimps react to this new experience: "The Chimpcam Project was designed to let the chimps take us on a tour of their minds. We created studies and activities, but what happened after that was completely up to the chimps. We were along for the ride, hoping to learn a bit more about how they viewed the world. Being able to view life as the chimps see it is something that I will never forget.
"I couldn't imagine a better combination of people to work on this project. It's been a fantastic experience collaborating with all three institutions."
Betsy is undertaking a PhD in the Department of Psychology under the supervision of Professor Hannah Buchanan-Smith and Dr Sarah-Jane Vick. Originally from Ohio, she came to Stirling in 2008 after conducting research with the Gorilla Foundation in California.
Betsy is part of the Behaviour and Evolution Research Group at Stirling. This group looks at the study of animal behaviour with a particular emphasis on primate behaviour. Research within the group covers a wide range of areas including: behaviour, cognition, conservation, ecology and welfare. Species studied include chimpanzees, baboons, macaques, capuchins, squirrel monkeys, marmosets and tamarins. Research is conducted through collaborative links with research institutes and zoos in Europe and the USA and sites in Africa, South America and Asia.
Natural World - The Chimpcam Project will be shown on Wednesday 27 January, 8pm-9pm on BBC 2. The programme can also be watched online at the link below (after the broadcast).
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qfb4f