Context:

Chimpanzees at a sanctuary in Zambia have adopted a peculiar behavior of dangling grass or sticks from their ear holes, akin to a fashion trend, which seems to have been socially transmitted among them. Initially observed in 2010, this behavior started with one female chimpanzee and quickly spread to others in her group, showing no functional purpose but rather a social or cultural significance. Interestingly, a separate group of chimpanzees located nine miles away began exhibiting the same behavior over a decade later, likely influenced by caregivers who cleaned their ears with similar objects. This suggests that chimpanzees may learn from human actions, further evidenced by a similar phenomenon in a Dutch zoo where chimps adopted a unique walking style. The study raises intriguing questions about the potential for chimpanzees to develop and transmit cultural behaviors, opening avenues for future research on their capacity for cultural innovation and interspecies learning.

Dive Deeper:

• Chimpanzees at the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust in Zambia began a trend of placing grass or sticks in their ear holes, a behavior that spread socially among the group without any apparent practical function, suggesting it was a cultural or social practice.

• The initial observation occurred in 2010, when a female chimpanzee initiated the behavior, which was soon adopted by other members of the group, highlighting the role of social learning in chimpanzee communities.

• A second group of chimpanzees, living nine miles away, later exhibited the same behavior, which could not have been copied directly from the first group, indicating potential human influence from caregivers who used similar objects for personal grooming.

• The study suggests that chimpanzees may be capable of interspecies cultural transmission, as the behavior aligns with human actions observed by the chimpanzees, raising questions about their ability to learn from non-chimpanzee species.

• An example from a zoo in the Netherlands supports this notion, where a chimpanzee's unique walking style was adopted by others, demonstrating that such behaviors can facilitate social integration and acceptance within chimpanzee groups.

• These findings emphasize the importance of leisure time in the sanctuary, where the absence of predators and competition allows chimpanzees to engage in social activities, forming and spreading cultural behaviors.

• The potential for chimpanzees to innovate and transmit cultural practices akin to humans opens new research possibilities into their cognitive capabilities and the evolutionary roots of culture in primates.