Bonobos: The Apes That Know When You’re Clueless!
- Srestha Majumdar
- Feb 20
- 2 min read
Bonobos (Pan paniscus) are lesser-known but equally fascinating primate cousins and are often called “hippie apes” because of their peaceful, matriarchal societies. Unlike their more aggressive relatives, bonobos solve conflicts with affection by using social bonding and cooperation. Highly intelligent and emotionally complex, these rare apes offer a glimpse into the roots of human empathy and connection. A groundbreaking study shattered one of science’s long-held beliefs: Apes don’t just act on instinct, they understand when someone lacks information and actively help them out.
Scientists at John Hopkins University set up a simple but meaningful test with bonobos. In the experiment, a researcher hid treats under one of three cups while a bonobo watched. Sometimes the human would also try searching for the treat and genuinely wouldn’t know where it was, in such instances, the bonobos eagerly pointed to the correct cup. But when the humans had seen the hiding process, the apes simply waited for them to retrieve it. This shows that bonobos weren’t just reacting randomly, but they were aware of what the humans knew (or didn’t know) and acted accordingly.
This ability is known as the Theory of mind and was once thought to be uniquely human. It allows us to understand that other people have thoughts, knowledge, and beliefs separate from our own. “This study proves that bonobos can recognize knowledge gaps in others and act to fill them,” said Chris Krupenye, co-author of the study.
The bonobos who took part- Nyota (25), Kanzi (43), and Teco (13) live at the Ape Initiative, which is a nonprofit research centre. Kanzi is known for his strong motivation for food and was particularly enthusiastic, tapping insistently to get researchers’ attention when they were clueless about the treat’s location. This study also builds on previous wild observations, where chimpanzees have been seen warning unaware groupmates about hidden dangers, like snakes.
What’s next, then? The researchers now want to explore whether apes point to changes in a partner’s beliefs or simply influence behaviour. Either way, this study reinforces what primatologists have long suspected- apes are far more socially and cognitively advanced than we’ve given them credit for, and our primate relatives maybe even more like us than we imagined.