Zoë Goldsborough
Researcher
Photo courtesy of Jake Brooker
Research
Social Learning & Culture
I am interested in how animals acquire and spread behavior and how this is affected by individual and environmental factors. In a recent article​ we describe a captive female chimpanzee rapidly adopting a local, female-specific tradition after introduction to her new group. Currently, for my doctoral research, I am studying the use of stone tools by white-faced capuchins in Coiba National Park, Panama with Dr. Brendan Barrett & Prof. Dr. Meg Crofoot. To read more about this project, click here. My first chapter, which explores the relationship between tool use and tidal cycles can be found here. The second chapter of my PhD, considering potential drivers for an observed male-bias in stone tool use can be read here.
​
During my Master's degree,I examined a social custom (the grooming handclasp) in chimpanzees at Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage in Zambia. The grooming handclasp (pictured to the right) is a socially learned tradition found in some chimpanzee groups, of which the function is currently unknown. Under the supervision of Dr. Edwin van Leeuwen & Dr. Anne-Marijke Schel, I considered how individuals initiate a grooming handclasp interaction, and whether communication plays a role (article here).
​
Debbie initiating a grooming handclasp with Tess at Chimfunshi © Zoë Goldsborough
A juvenile capuchin stealing a nut from another juvenile who is using tools at an anvil site © MPI AB
Welfare & Ethics
Male tiger Ilya walking past visitors at Dierenpark Amersfoort © Zoë Goldsborough
In my opinion, animal welfare is central to any study of animal behavior. Over my research career, my interest in animal rights and animal ethics has grown, and I hope to contribute to the positive treatment of animals through my research.
​
Two of my previous studies focused largely on the welfare of captive animals. Supervised by Dr. Christine Webb & Prof. Dr. Liesbeth Sterck, I examined individual variation in abnormal behavior in a group of captive chimpanzees housed at Royal Burgers' Zoo, the Netherlands. Qualitative individual differences are often overlooked in the study of abnormal behavior, even though they can have great implications for accurately assessing welfare. Additionally, for my Bachelor's thesis, I studied the effect of visitor density on the behavior of two captive tigers at Dierenpark Amersfoort, the article is available here.
Emotions & Cognition
The inner experience of an animal is inherently difficult to measure. However, through careful analysis of behavior we can make some inferences about the emotional and cognitive capacities of animals. This research is important because it can inform us how to treat animals to meet their needs and desires, especially when holding them in captivity.
​
In a collaboration with Dr. Edwin van Leeuwen, Dr. Christine Webb, Prof. Dr. Frans de Waal, and Kayla Kolff, I described the response of the chimpanzees at Royal Burgers' Zoo to a bereaved group member. The female in question had a stillbirth, and we observed her to receive increased affiliation from the other chimpanzees shortly thereafter, which may be evidence of consolation. This article is available here.
Moni, the bereaved mother, at Royal
Burgers' Zoo © Zoë Goldsborough
Education
Experience
2020-Present
University of Konstanz & MPI of Animal Behavior
IMPRS Doctoral student
2017-2019
Utrecht University
Master of Science in Behavioral Ecology
2014-2017
University College Roosevelt
Honour's Bachelor Degree in Environmental and
Neuro-Sciences
2020
Research assistant at Utrecht University
Conducted observations, experiments, and analyses
for project on prosocial behavior in chimpanzees
2019
Research assistant at Emory University
At Chimfunshi, I collected data and performed experiments for project on aggression and empathy
Teaching assistant at Utrecht University
Gave lectures and monitored a mini research assignment in a bachelor course on animal behavior
Voluntary animal caretaker at Stichting AAP
Throughout my studies, I volunteered at the mammal department of this exotic animal sanctuary.