Research | Ocean Park Corporation

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Ocean Park cares for over 6,700 animals from hundreds of species, providing scientists with an exceptional platform to study the biology and behaviour of a wide range of species, some of which are endangered and difficult to access in the wild . Over the years, our research team has conducted many studies on animal behaviour, welfare, cognition and sensory biology focusing on species including Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, giant pandas, red pandas, spotted seals, California sea lion, arctic fox, manta ray, arapaimas, green turtles, green iguanas, cockatoos and macaws. We collaborate with over 20 academic institutions and organisations worldwide, advancing conservation through science.

To ensure all research meets animal welfare standards, the Park's Animal Welfare, Ethics and Care Committee reviews and oversees every research project involving animals. The committee comprises an animal welfare specialist along with representatives from our veterinary, animal care, research, management teams and more. From methodology, implementation to evaluation, the committee ensures that animals' physical and psychological wellbeing is fully protected throughout the research process, upholding our commitment to animal welfare while advancing scientific discovery.

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Two dolphins underwater holding a white and red buoy with a rope.

Our cooperative enrichment study is one of our longest-running scientific projects. It focuses on the dolphins' cognitive abilities and problem-solving skills. Our research team created a set of devices that enabled dolphin pairs, trios, and even quartets to work together toward a common goal. These cooperative actions are not taught by trainers and are highly coordinated among the dolphins. We discovered that the dolphins form preferred partnerships and play together in a synchronous manner. The dolphins are even willing to help others to obtain food, even when they do not gain any benefit

We have also collaborated with the National University of Singapore (NUS) on dolphin research, revealing how dolphins use echolocation to identify the structure of objects underwater. Using a Matching-To-Sample paradigm, the dolphins were asked to echolocate on a sample object concealed in a box, then to match it to one of several alternatives displayed visually in the air. Applying biomimetic principles, the NUS team has developed underwater sonar systems inspired by these mechanisms, providing reference data for future ocean exploration technologies.

Two dolphins, an adult and a baby, swim underwater in clear blue water.

Dolphin with its mouth open, partially out of blue water.

Our research has further revealed that engaging animals in scientific study can itself enhance their welfare. A three-year study showed that on days when dolphins participated in cognitive research activities, they displayed significantly more positive social behaviours. This demonstrates that well-designed cognitive challenges not only deepen our understanding of dolphins but also directly enrich their lives, creating a win-win situation for both scientific research and animal welfare.

Publications and presentations:

Academic Poster of Researches on the Cognition of Dolphins

Matrai, E., Kwok, S. T., Tan, Z., Lin, X., Lee, W., Martelli, P., & Pogány, Á. (2024). Cognitive enrichment for testing prosocial food-sharing in dolphin groups. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2024.1479989

Eszter Matrai. (2024). Experiments with a set of cooperative enrichment devices used by groups of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins. Biologia Futura, 75(2), 193–197. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42977-024-00218-2

Wei, C., Houser, D., Erbe, C., Eszter Mátrai, Ketten, D. R., & Finneran, J. J. (2023). Does rotation increase the acoustic field of view? Comparative models based on CT data of a live dolphin versus a dead dolphin. Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 18(3), 035006–035006. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-3190/acc43d

‌Eszter Mátrai, Gendron, S. M., Boos, M., & Ákos Pogány. (2022). Cognitive Group Testing Promotes Affiliative Behaviors in Dolphins. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 27(1), 165–179. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2022.2149267

Vishnu, H., Hoffmann-Kuhnt, M., Chitre, M., Ho, A., & Matrai, E. (2022). A dolphin-inspired compact sonar for underwater acoustic imaging. Communications Engineering, 1(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44172-022-00010-x

Matrai, E., Kwok, S. T., Boos, M., & Pogány, Á. (2022). Testing use of the first multi-partner cognitive enrichment devices by a group of male bottlenose dolphins. Animal Cognition. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-022-01605-9

‌Matrai, E., Kwok, S. T., Boos, M., & Pogány, Á. (2021). Group size, partner choice and collaborative actions in male Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus). Animal Cognition. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-021-01541-0

‌Matrai, E., Kwok, S. T., Boos, M., & Pogány, Á. (2021). Cognitive enrichment device provides evidence for intersexual differences in collaborative actions in Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus). Animal Cognition, 24(6), 1215–1225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-021-01510-7

Wei, C., Hoffmann-Kuhnt, M., Au, W. W. L., Ho, A. Z. H., Matrai, E., Feng, W., Ketten, D. R., & Zhang, Y. (2021). Possible limitations of dolphin echolocation: a simulation study based on a cross-modal matching experiment. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 6689. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85063-2

‌Matrai, E., Ng, A. K. W., Chan, M. M. H., Gendron, S. M., & Dudzinski, K. M. (2020). Testing use of a potential cognitive enrichment device by an Indo‐Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus). Zoo Biology, 39(3), 156–167. https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.21536

‌Matrai, E., Hoffmann-Kuhnt, M., & Kwok, S. T. (2019). Lateralization in accuracy, reaction time and behavioral processes in a visual discrimination task in an Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus). Behavioural Processes, 162, 112–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2019.02.003

‌Matrai, E., Hoffmann-Kuhnt, M., Kwok, K., & Lai C. (2018). Training steps for complex psychophysical studies with an Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus). IMATA Soundings, 43(2) – Second Quarter 2018