Since its opening on 1 April 2001, the Wolfgang Köhler Primate Research Centre (WKPRC) at Leipzig Zoo, part of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, has been at the forefront of research into the nature of human thought and our shared characteristics with our closest living relatives. It is the only facility in the world where continuous behavioural and cognitive research can be conducted on all four great ape species in one place: chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans.
25 Years of Pongoland
To the point
- Unique worldwide: Only facility worldwide enabling continuous research across chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, and gorillas at a single location.
- Great apes: Around 50 great apes live in spacious indoor and outdoor habitats at the WKPRC, with additional research and sleeping quarters.
- Non-invasive research methods: These include remote eye tracking, touchscreen tasks and desktop virtual reality environments.
The WKPRC, also known as 'Pongoland', is home to around 50 great apes. They are housed in five indoor enclosures and five outdoor enclosures, as well as additional research and sleeping areas. The combination of natural, modern living conditions and close proximity of animal care and research facilities creates a unique environment in which researchers can study the species under comparable conditions, reliably identifying evolutionary differences and similarities, even at the level of individual development.
Non-invasive and ethically sound approach
Studies from Leipzig, for example, show that great apes are capable of astonishing cognitive feats. Bonobos and orangutans, for instance, can select and store tools for future use. Chimpanzees, on the other hand, demonstrate a high degree of social intelligence, and in competitive situations take into account what others might see or know. Instances of altruistic behaviour have also been documented. Their insightful problem-solving has gained international recognition, as demonstrated when chimpanzees use water as a 'tool' to retrieve a peanut from a tube.
Central to the project’s success is its consistently non-invasive and ethically sound approach. Participation in the tasks is entirely voluntary for the animals. Modern methods are employed, such as remote eye tracking, touchscreen tasks and desktop virtual reality environments. Visitors to the zoo can observe the great apes in their enclosures and, in some cases, watch them carrying out research tasks in adjacent study rooms.
Excellent cooperation with Leipzig Zoo
“The Wolfgang Köhler Primate Research Centre, or Pongoland, is unique in enabling continuous research with all four great ape species — chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans and gorillas — at a single site,” says Daniel Haun. He adds: “Our success is built on our excellent cooperation with Leipzig Zoo, from the keepers to the wider team, who make it possible to combine first-class animal care with public engagement and non-invasive research methods.”
Through international collaborations such as the ManyPrimates network, which was founded in 2019, the WKPRC helps to ensure the robustness of research findings, both in Leipzig and worldwide. The network pools data to provide statistically robust answers to significant questions about the evolution of cognition. After 25 years, one thing is clear: Pongoland is not only home to great apes, but is also a pivotal site for investigating the evolution of the mind.
Contact:
Sandra Jacob
Press Officer
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig
+49 341 3550-122
jacob@[>>> Please remove the text! <<<]eva.mpg.de