February 18, 2026 · by Geladas & Bridges
On November 12, 2025, Sheleme Abiyou Gamessa graduated with top honours from Addis Ababa University (AAU) with a thesis entitled “Exploring Social Play Behavior in a Population of Geladas Living in and Around Debre Libanos, Central Ethiopia.” His work investigated the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on social play in geladas, addressing the often-overlooked issue of behaviour in populations living in non-protected areas. Studies such as this contribute to improving our understanding of behavioural flexibility and resilience in highly disturbed habitats.
Through the Erasmus+ KA171 project, Dr. Gamessa worked closely with the Ethology Unit of the University of Pisa (UniPi) as part of the joint Ethiopian-Italian BRIDGES project, led by Professor Elisabetta Palagi (UniPi) and Professor Bezawork Afework Bogale (AAU).
During a total of nine months of mobility in Italy, he received training in high-resolution video analysis, statistical analysis, and research-question development, working alongside students from the University of Pisa. Together with the team from the Ethology Unit of UniPi, he also participated in two field expeditions in the Debre Libanos area in Ethiopia, collecting data and providing invaluable expertise in fieldwork.
Thanks to the collaborative nature of the BRIDGES project, researchers were able to share and complement their expertise in field research, methodology, and statistical analyses, highlighting the power of international cooperation in higher education.