COSMOS MAGAZINE
Social-Grooming_Credit_Elodie-Freymann
A new study reveals that chimpanzees not only treat their own wounds but also care for others, highlighting the social complexity of their medicinal behavior.
Chimpanzees practice first aid — and not just on themselves
Credit: Elena Bolshakova / EyeEm / Getty Images.
While we no longer use these gestures, studies suggests we may have retained an understanding of this ancestral communication system.
Chimps speak sign language — you might know what their saying
Bonobos. Credit: Getty
Research shows bonobos and chimpanzees use non-reproductive sex to ease social tension, hinting at deep evolutionary roots shared with humans.
Chimpanzees & bonobos use sex to resolve stress & conflict
Credit: Photostock-Israel/Science Photo Library
Human capacity for language and music-making may not be as unique as previously thought, say primatologists. Wild chimpanzees use call combinations to add nuance, mirroring human language complexity, and drum on tree buttresses to stay in touch.
Chimpanzees have rhythm, and language
Western chimpanzee juvenile female using tools. Credit: Anup Shah / Stone / Getty Images Plus.
Scientists have found that today’s chimpanzees select stones to use as tools in a similar way to human ancestors who lived about 2.5 million years ago.
Chimps choose stone tools like our ancient human ancestors did
Chimpanzees. Credit: Onishi et al.
After noticing that 20 captive chimpanzees at Kumamoto Sanctuary, Japan, appeared to urinate at about the same time, a team of researchers decided to spy on their toilet habits… for science.
Peeing is contagious for chimpanzees in captivity
The bizarre behaviour seems to be influenced by social hierarchy.
Chimpanzee Pal doing task 3, which involves pressing numbers in ascending order on a touchscreen once covered up. Credit: Akiho Muramatsu
A study has found chimps’ cognitive performance can be influenced by an audience. Data analysed from 6 captive chimps performing computer tasks, found that the chimps performed better as the number of researchers watching them increased.
Chimps perform tasks differently to an audience