# Pigs solve a cooperative task without showing a clear understanding of the need for a partner

## TL;DR

Pigs can work together to get food but don't seem to understand they need a partner to do so.

## Contribution

This study investigates whether pigs understand the need for a partner in a cooperative task using a recruitment approach.

## Key findings

- Pigs opened a door to recruit a partner in all experimental conditions.
- Latencies to open the door and return to the task did not indicate understanding of the partner's necessity.

## Abstract

Many animal species engage in cooperation, whereby they act together, typically to achieve a common goal. Domestic pigs were recently shown to lift a log together in pairs in the joint log-lift (JLL) task to access food treats. However, it is not yet clear whether pigs understand that they need a partner for this task. To investigate this, we applied a recruitment approach similar to that used for chimpanzees, coral trout, wolves and dogs. Pigs that were proficient with the JLL task were given access to the task on their own but could open a door to recruit a familiar partner from an adjacent enclosure. Pigs opened the door in all experimental conditions, allowing the partner to enter (if a partner was present). Comparing across conditions, latencies to open the door and to return to the box after opening the door generally did not suggest that subjects understood the need for the partner. As with many animal species in cooperative tasks, pigs may achieve a complex cooperative outcome in the JLL task without a full understanding of the need for a partner.