Wild Minds: What Animals Really Think

Extended Through January 29, 2012

Using a variety of videos, games and displays, Wild Minds: What Animals Really Think explores the evolutionary and cognitive links that humans share with animals. After experiencing the exhibition at NYSCI, visitors are encouraged to continue their discovery at the Staten Island Zoo, with additional Wild Minds exhibits.

The exhibits at NYSCI include:

Is This Thinking? - Using a large, touch screen monitor, visitors can weigh in on whether the animal behaviors they observe (via video clips) are hard-wired or require "thinking." After recording their opinions, they can hear what scientists think the behavior demonstrates.

Wild Minds at the Zoo - A video display that tells the story of zoo enrichment programs showing how zoo animals are provided with ways to exercise their brains.

Brain Power - A display of five plastinated brains from a parrot, dog, chimpanzee, dolphin and a human allows visitors to compare human and animal brains by size and complexity.

Get-the-Peanut Experiment - Visitors are asked to think about how they would get the peanut out of the tube. Then, they can view a video of children and apes taking this challenge.

Birds with Big Brains - Visitors are asked to consider how they would get a piece of meat (lodged in a small basket) out of a tube, using only a straight piece of wire. This is the same experiment originally posed to Betty the Crow.

Remembering Numbers at a Glance - Take the same numbers memory test posed to a chimpanzee and see how you compare.

Learning Colors, Shapes and Numbers - Learn about Alex, the famous African gray parrot known for his skill at cognitive challenges.

Is That Me I See? - Watch a video showing dolphins examining themselves in front of a mirror. Do they recognize themselves?

The Thinking Octopus - After watching a short video of a mimic octopus (a species of octopus with a strong ability to mimic other creatures), try to guess the type of poisonous animal being imitated.

Mimicking Sounds for the Environment - After watching a short clip about the lyrebird, try to determine the sounds being mimicked by the bird.

What Dogs Want - Listen to a variety of barks and try to figure out what the dog is communicating.

 

Want to try some fun projects at home? Download the Wild Minds Family Guide!