Bonobos Reared by Humans Point the Way to Understanding Culture

(PHOTO: Great Ape Trust.)

Although apes are physically capable of pointing with a finger, scientists had always believed they did so with no particular meaning in mind—that their gestures, in other words, were empty. But a new study of bonobos, a species of great ape native to the Democratic Republic of Congo, suggests that if captive apes are reared in a human culture, in which pointing is carried out with specific intent, they can learn to use the action just as people do: to direct attention, indicate choices, and express ideas. Guess they never met my mother—she always told me pointing was rude.

For more, including a video of bonobos pointing at their preferred human companion, go here.

P.S. If you haven’t yet heard the most recent Radiolab episode about primates raised as humans, you really should. Kanzi, a bonobo from the Great Ape Trust, makes an unforgettable appearance in it.

P.P.S. We recently talked about other human-like things apes can do.