PNAS
ANNOUNCEMENTS•
Chimpanzees show their peers objects to draw attention to them, without any ulterior motive. This is demonstrated by a research by primatologists in a forest in Uganda. It is the first time this human behavior has been observed in monkeys. The research was published in scientific journal PNAS.
A video shows a young chimpanzee showing her mother a leaf from a tree. If she doesn’t look right away, she pushes the leaf (possibly with lice on it) under her mother’s nose to draw her attention to it. As if to say: “Look!”
When she’s sure her mother is watching, she continues to smell the leaf. The researchers filmed 84 similar situations.
Behavioral biologist: “People often think their behavior is unique, but animals often behave the same way”
It’s the first time researchers have observed this social behavior in monkeys. Until now, it was only known that they specifically pointed to objects in order to get something, for example from their keepers. Then the pointing or showing has a concrete purpose. Monkeys sometimes even follow another monkey’s gaze to see what they are looking at.
The footage was shot in Kibale National Park in western Uganda where several groups of chimpanzees live. The forest is home to the largest number of primates in the world.
