Running head: THE SOCIAL SIDE OF HUMAN-WILDLIFE

The social side of humanwildlife interaction: wildlife can learn

harmful behaviours from each other
Racquel Mounce
Salt Lake Community College

Introduction
This article is based on the idea that humans are conditioning dolphins to be around them
with the use of food. In addition to using food to socialize dolphins to the presence of humans;
researchers have come up with this theory with the idea of, food being used to modify the
behaviors of other species such as elephants, cetaceans(wales, dolphins), canids (dog, wolf),
ursids (bear) and primates; these animals often acquire novel forging behaviors in part through
social learning (Donaldson, 2011).
The scientists chose this subject in the hopes to prevent harmful interactions between
dolphins and humans. Many times these interactions end in accidents resulting in death or
injury. This is the reason they are illegal. With such high steaks researchers want to know if
social learning is contributing to these illegal interactions between humans and dolphins.
THE SOCIAL SIDE OF HUMAN-WILDLIFE 2
To help prove their point the researchers intend to gather specific information that can
shed more light on the issue of how much a conditioned dolphin contributes to unconditioned
dolphins learning? What variables have an affect on this are age (class), sex, or being in a high
boat traffic area? Acquiring this information could unlock valuable patterns that could prevent
accident and save lives. Practical applications of conditioning an animal to accept food from
humans is important because the data gained from dolphins learning socially could lend to
valuable insights into how other species participate in social learning; thus trying to prove the
researchers hypothesis: To illuminate how long-term individual-specific data can be used to
identify key factors associated with harmful wildlife interactions and for social species to
examine the potential influence of social learning (Donaldson, 2011).
Material and Methods
Scientists obtained their information by observing the interactions between dolphins as
well as taking behavior surveys over 4 years. The researchers conducted their research off the
shore of Codkburn Sound, Australia. While being observed the dolphins had 4 conditions to
meet in order to be labeled conditioned verses and unconditioned dolphin, Behavior includes (1)
exhibited an active, direct approach to a stationary vessel or jetty; (2) remained in close
proximity to the vessel or people on the jetty; (3) exhibited solicitous behaviors while in close
proximity to vessels or people on a jetty; (4) accepted food from humans if offered (Donaldson,
2011). After/while observing they took into account (variables): age (class), sex, boat traffic,
THE SOCIAL SIDE OF HUMAN-WILDLIFE 3
and pre- conditioning to evaluate if the animal had become conditioned according to their
hypothesis.
Results
It seems that the results speak for themselves, 11 dolphins were classified as
condi- tioned during the study, based on the defined requirements. A further three dolphins
exhibited behaviors indicative of conditioning to human interaction by food reinforcement, but
were not classified as conditioned because: (1) there were no preconditioning observations for
them (Donaldson, 2011). So the dolphins where conditioned according to the variable set up in
the hypothesis, however some of the variable that the researchers thought would make all the
difference in discovering the patterns by which the dolphins where learning where not apparent.
In fact an individual was more likely to become conditioned when it spent time with already
conditioned dolphins.
Discussion
From the information gathered on the hypothesis was partially supported in the fact that
the dolphins to participate in social learning. Based on the information the researchers they
proved that the linier model they had developed predicted patterns on when dolphins would
accept food from humans: Areas where there was high volumes of boats and contact with other
conditioned dolphins. When in social conditions the animal learns information that leads to
cost benefit decisions.
THE SOCIAL SIDE OF HUMAN-WILDLIFE 4

Biblyography
R. Donaldson1, H. Finn2, L. Bejder2, D. Lusseau3 & M. Calver4 (2011) . The social side of
humanwildlife interaction: wildlife can learn harmful behaviours from each other.
Retrieved from http://biology1615.weebly.com/human-animal-interactions.html