At the beginning of October, our research group had the pleasure of taking part in the 5th International Gelada Workshop, held in Doncaster (UK). The event brought together people who work with geladas at every level, from zoo professionals who manage these fascinating primates in captivity to researchers studying their behavior, genetics, and ecology. It was a unique opportunity for a full immersion into the world of geladas, fostering collaboration and shared knowledge across institutions and disciplines.
Our team (Elisabetta Palagi, Alice Galotti, Martina Francesconi, and Luca Pedruzzi) contributed to the workshop by presenting the first results of the BRIDGES project. Our work spans both experimental and observational approaches: from playback experiments showing that geladas can recognize social affiliation and emotional cues to behavioral studies on group dynamics, including play and infant kidnapping. We also explored how these behaviors are shaped by the ecological context, considering the presence of other species (e.g., olive baboons) and the growing anthropogenic pressures affecting populations living outside protected areas.
Events like this are crucial reminders of how complementary research in captivity and the wild truly is. While captive studies allow us to observe individuals with close focus, providing a solid foundation for hypotheses and experimental designs, field research offers insight into how these behaviors unfold within the complex social and ecological fabric of natural environments.
We are grateful to have been part of such an inspiring meeting and proud to have shared our scientific contributions (including the first public screening of our documentary film, now available on YouTube). These events remind us how collaboration and communication across the research and zoo communities are essential to both the conservation and understanding of this remarkable species.
