It turns out that chimpanzees follow fashion!

Chimpanzees, whose intelligence impresses with their awe-inspiring abilities, are also similar to humans in their cultural behaviors. Two separate scientific studies have revealed that chimpanzees both exhibit "fashion-trend"-like social behaviors and use plants for medicinal purposes, according to the Independent.

"CHIMPANZEE FASHION"

A study published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Behavior observed eight chimpanzees living at the Chimfunshi Wildlife Sanctuary in Zambia placing grass or small twigs in their ears. Interestingly, this behavior had no practical purpose. "It's not about cracking nuts or hunting termites," co-author Dr. Jake Brooker of Durham University told The Times. "It's more of a chimpanzee fad."

This behavior, Brooker says, reflects how fashion and cultural trends spread among people: Someone does something, others imitate them, and eventually, the behavior becomes part of a group identity, even if it has no clear purpose.

The researchers note that such behaviors are more likely to be observed in chimpanzees living in captivity because these animals don't have to constantly search for food or be on high alert for survival as they do in the wild. "This provides them with the opportunity to play, experiment, and imitate each other," said Dr. Edwin van Leeuwen of Utrecht University.

Another remarkable study involving chimpanzees was conducted in the Budongo Forest in Uganda. In the study, published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, scientists from Oxford University documented the chimpanzees' natural healing of open wounds.

According to the study, lead authored by Dr. Elodie Freymann of the University of Oxford, chimpanzees chew leaves and apply them to wounds, clean them with saliva, and lick and press their fingers against the wound. These behaviors directly represent wound care techniques and point to the healing power of plants and their antimicrobial saliva.

Scientists observed two chimpanzee communities, Sonso and Waibira, in Budongo Forest for four months. They also utilized video recordings, databases, and scientific surveys accumulated over the years. Specifically, they found that approximately 40% of the individuals in the Sonso group had been injured by human-set traps.

CULTURE AND HEALTH

Both studies demonstrate that chimpanzees are capable of performing actions based not only on instinct but also on social learning, group behavior, and health knowledge. The researchers say these behaviors further illustrate the evolutionary closeness between humans and apes.

Source: Independent