https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:4744 Pigs solve a cooperative task without showing a clear understanding of the need for a partner McGetrick, Jim Jim McGetrick 0000-0001-5468-934X University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Rault, Jean-Loup Jean-Loup Rault 0000-0001-6015-8318 University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Brosche, Kimberly Kimberly Brosche 0000-0003-2809-8591 Nanchen, Clémence Clémence Nanchen Springer journal article open access eng 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. Coordination Joint Action Porcine Social Cognition Social Behaviour http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/api/object/o:4744/download 10.1038/s41598-024-84529-3 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:605 application/pdf Scientific Reports issn:2045-2322 VoR Scientific Reports 15 1 2.48 MB 2025