Why Saving Animal Cultures Is Vital for Biodiversity and Human Understanding

[frankerkanol]

Human-driven environmental changes are accelerating the loss of biodiversity across the globe. But according to researchers from the University of Victoria and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, this crisis doesn’t just threaten animal populations—it also risks erasing our understanding of their complex behaviors, including tool use.

Their findings, published in Science, highlight how cultural behaviors in animals—from whale songs to primate tool use—are key to understanding the evolution of behavior and learning across species. These behaviors also help animals adapt to environmental changes, making them not only scientifically significant but vital for survival.

“A wide range of cultural behaviors enhances animals' adaptability,” said Ammie Kalan of the University of Victoria. “As biodiversity declines, so does our ability to study and learn from these behaviors.”

Tool use, in particular, offers a unique advantage for scientific research because it leaves behind physical traces. These “material cultures” can be paired with observed behaviors, giving scientists a clearer window into both the present and the deep past—including how extinct human relatives may have used tools, when only stone artifacts remain.

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“Non-human primates share an evolutionary legacy with humans, and studying their behavior can tell us much about our own origins,” said Lydia Luncz of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. “But many of these species are on the brink of extinction, putting both their lives and their cultural knowledge at risk.”

Digital technologies such as 3D scanning and audio recording can help preserve these behaviors by capturing the physical artifacts and sounds associated with them. These digital archives could become invaluable for both research and conservation, especially as habitats shrink and species vanish.

The researchers argue that conservation efforts must expand beyond protecting species and ecosystems to also include the cultural traditions of animals. Acknowledging the value of animal cultures could lead to more effective and holistic conservation strategies.

“As we continue to reshape the natural world, we must also recognize the cultural richness shared by the species we live alongside,” the authors write. “This shared heritage is essential not only for scientific discovery, but for understanding the interconnected survival strategies that link all life on Earth.”