Rapid updating of ecological information in wild Guinea baboons

Knowing where to find what kind of food when is essential for survival and reproduction. Recent links between feeding ecology and brain size have revived interest in foraging cognition as a core component in cognitive evolution. We investigated whether free-ranging Guinea baboons (Papio papio) keep track of the spatio-temporal availability of a preferred food resource, the Natal orange (Strychnos spinosa). A natural experiment, a massive wildfire that destroyed most oranges in 2019, allowed us to disentangle habitual routines from goal-directed behaviour in the baboons. The animals space-use patterns shifted significantly following the wildfire. After one single visit, they stopped going to the area during the period when Natal oranges would normally be available. In the following year, they resumed regular space-use patterns. We also assessed travel linearity, speed, and departure time from sleeping sites towards the target area with and without ripe fruit. Guinea baboons travelled more linearly, 14% faster, and ~40 minutes earlier towards the target area when S. spinosa was in season compared to when it was not. In conclusion, Guinea baboons rapidly updated their knowledge of high-value food availability and adjusted their space-use accordingly. These results underscore their capacity for flexible decision-making and goal-directed foraging.