Responses of wild chimpanzees and gorillas to the arrival of primatologists: behaviour observed during habituation

Abstract

Wild primates show a variety of responses when primatologists arrive to study them. Some are very shy and flee rapidly, while others lack fear and are easy to approach and observe. Habituation is the term used to describe the acceptance by wild animals of a human observer as a neutral element in their environment. The process is rarely described, as it is commonly regarded as a means to an end; namely, the progression to a state that allows the natural behaviour of a species to be observed and documented.