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Permana, AL, Permana, JJ, Nellissen, L, Prayogi, ES, Prasetyo, D, Wich, SA, van Schaik, CP and Schuppli, C (2025) Observational social learning of “know-how” and “know-what” in wild orangutans: evidence from nest-building skill acquisition. Communications Biology, 8 (1).
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Abstract
Immature great apes learn how to build their nests over multiple years, yet how they do so has remained largely unclear. We investigated the detailed role of social learning in the acquisition of nest-building skills in wild Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) using data on nest-building, nest practice, and nest peering behaviour from 44 individuals, collected over 17 years. We found that nest peering (but not being close to a nesting individual without peering) is associated with a significant increase in nest practice and is primarily directed at multi-step nest elements. Dependent immatures mostly peer at their mothers and use nest tree species in common with her, independent immatures peer at a larger range of individuals and use nest tree species in common with them. Our results suggest that orangutans acquire their nest-building skills through observational social learning, selective attention to “know-how” and the transmission of “know-what” information.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 31 Biological sciences; 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences |
| Subjects: | Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QL Zoology |
| Divisions: | Biological and Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19) |
| Publisher: | Nature Research |
| Date of acceptance: | 13 May 2025 |
| Date of first compliant Open Access: | 9 June 2025 |
| Date Deposited: | 09 Jun 2025 10:09 |
| Last Modified: | 09 Jun 2025 10:15 |
| DOI or ID number: | 10.1038/s42003-025-08217-2 |
| URI: | https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/26553 |
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