Serge A Wich Scientist Institute or University Great Ape Trust of Iowa

Great Ape Trust Research Program

Serge Wich's main areas of expertise are ecology, conservation, vocal communication, orangutans, Thomas langurs, and recently studies on innovative behaviour and culture.

His research interests are broad and focus on a range of topics from basic ecological questions to questions on culture in orangutans. These studies are partly conducted at two field sites in Sumatra. One is the well-established long-term research site, Ketambe, where research on orangutans has been conducted since 1971. Research there focuses on all aspects of orangutan behaviour and ecology. The other site is a new research site that will focus on the southernmost orangutan population on Sumatra. Because this site is new, the focus is on habituating orangutans and obtaining basic data on their density and distribution.

The orangutan research Wich is involved in at Great Ape Trust of Iowa currently focuses on predator recognition in orangutans, but will be expanded into other areas as well. In collaboration with Dr. Savage-Rumbaugh I am also involved in studying the vocalizations of the bonobos at Great Ape Trust.

Biographical Sketch

I received my MS in animal behaviour in 1995 at Utrecht University for which I conducted a study on food competition in wild Sumatran orangutans. In 2002, I received my PhD from the same university for a study on the structure and function of male Thomas langur long-distance vocalizations. In 2003, I started as a post-doc at Utrecht University to study ‘cultural behaviour’ of orangutans in two orangutan populations, one on Sumatra and one on Borneo. Currently I am a visiting scientist at Great Ape Trust and continue with fieldwork on Sumatran orangutans. In addition, I am involved in research on the orangutans and bonobos here at Great Ape Trust.

Representative Publications

• Wich, S. A. and de Vries, H. (2006) Male monkeys remember which group members have given alarm calls. Proceedings of the Royal Society London B. 273: 735-740.
• Wich, S. A., Utami-Atmoko, S. S., Mitra Setia, T., Rijksen, H. R., Schürmann, C., van Hooff, J. A. R. A. M., and van Schaik, C. P. (2004). Life history of wild Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii). Journal of Human Evolution 47: 385-398.
• Wich, S. A., Buij, R., and van Schaik, C. P. (2004). Determinants of orangutan density in the dryland forests of the Leuser Ecosystem. Primates 45:177-182.
• Wich, S. A., Singleton, I., Utami-Atmoko, S. S., Geurts, M. L., Rijksen, H. D. and van Schaik, C. P. (2003) The status of the Sumatran Orangutan Pongo abelii: an update. Oryx 37 (1): 49-54.
• Van Schaik, C. P., van Noordwijk, M. And Wich, S. A. (2006) Innovation in wild Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii) Behaviour. 143: 839-876.
• Sterck, E. H. M , Erik P. Willems, Jan A.R.A.M van Hooff and Wich, S. A. (2005) Female Transfer and the Influence of Male Life Phases in Thomas Langurs (Presbytis thomasi). Behaviour 142: 845-868.
• Knop, E., Ward, P. I. and Wich, S. A. (2004). Comparing orangutan density in a logged and unlogged forest on Sumatra. Biological Conservation 120: 183-188.
• Wich, S. A., Geurts, M. L., Mitra Setia, T.,and Utami-Atmoko, S. S. (2006). Influence of fruit availability on Sumatran orangutan sociality and reproduction. In: Feeding Ecology in apes and other Primates. Hohmann, G., Robbins, M. and Boesch, C. (Eds Wich, S. A., Sterck, E. H. M. and Utami, S. S. (1999) Are orangutan females as solitary as chimpanzee females? Folia Primatologica 70: 23-28.