Anthropology Students Visit Chahinkapa Zoo for Primate Behavior Study
In October, Dr. Butler’s students in Introduction to Physical Anthropology (ANTH 120) visited the Chahinkapa Zoo in Wahpeton, ND for an immersive primate behavior observation experience – continuing a long-standing collaborative tradition between Minnesota State Moorhead and the zoo.
Students had a unique opportunity to engage directly with the primates they study in class. Zoo staff begin the visit with demonstrations on primate training, enrichment, and communication, offering students a behind-the-scenes look at how behavioral science supports animal care.
The heart of the experience comes when students conduct systematic observations of each primate group. By watching interactions, social structures, grooming patterns, movement, and vocalizations in real time, students connect textbook and lecture concepts to their direct observations.
This yearly visit not only strengthens students’ understanding of human evolution and physical anthropology (a subfield of anthropology), but also highlights the importance of experiential learning in anthropology. As a yearly class highlight, it attempts to bridge scientific theory with lived observation in a memorable and meaningful way.
