College of Western Idaho (CWI) Anthropology students recently took their learning into the field during a primatology observation trip to Zoo Boise.
Led by Professor Nikki Gorrell, the Biological Anthropology (ANTH 104) class participated in a favorite course assignment designed to connect classroom concepts with real-world observation. Students began the day by creating enrichment feeding devices for primates, which Zoo Boise commissary staff will fill with food in ways that encourage problem-solving.
During the visit, students were guided through primate habitats by Zoo Boise Education Programs Coordinator, Marty Kois. They observed spider monkeys, cotton-top tamarins, patas monkeys, gibbons, vervet monkeys, and olive baboons while recording notes tied to course prompts.
Students looked for physical traits, including whether the primates had grasping, prehensile tails or non-muscular tails used more for balance. They also documented social behaviors, such as grooming and other affiliative interactions that can help maintain bonds within hierarchical group dynamics.
The field trip gave students a chance to apply biological anthropology skills outside the classroom while gaining a closer look at primate behavior, anatomy, and social structure.
The creation of the enrichment feeding devices activity served as a beta test this semester. Beginning in Fall 2026, Gorrell’s Biological Anthropology students will have the option, through a small $25 course fee, to create the devices in class and then observe primates using them during the Zoo Boise tour.
Interested in exploring anthropology and the biological side of human origins and behavior? Learn more about CWI’s Anthropology program and discover opportunities to take your learning beyond the classroom.
