- Swedish researchers noticed how zoo visitors liked to imitate chimpanzees
- Researchers found the chimps were just as prolific imitators as humans
- Chimps could be attempting to communicate, even to show they are friendly
Just as King Louie sang in the film The Jungle Book, scientists say chimps at the zoo really do want to be like you . . .
Swedish researchers noticed how zoo visitors liked to imitate chimpanzees, with clapping, head-slapping and armpit-scratching among the more common gestures by humans.
But after three weeks of secret observation, scientists found the chimps were also aping the humans outside their enclosure — by pouting, swaying their bodies and bobbing their heads.
Swedish researchers noticed how zoo visitors liked to imitate chimpanzees, with clapping, head-slapping and armpit-scratching among the more common gestures by humans
In fact, researchers found the chimps were just as prolific imitators as humans who had come to view their antics.
They believe chimps could be attempting to communicate, even to show they are friendly.
Five chimps and visitors were observed over 21 days at Sweden’s Furuvik Zoo and Lund University, with findings reported in the journal Primates.
Researcher Dr Gabriela-Alina Sauciuc said: ‘Our study is the first to systematically observe and investigate if zoo-housed chimpanzees imitated visitors.’
She added: ‘We found a social and communicative side to chimpanzee imitation. They imitated familiar actions such as clapping, in an intentional manner, while looking towards the individual who produced those actions. In a few cases, they even put in an effort to come closer to the individual.’
But after three weeks of secret observation, scientists found the chimps were also aping the humans outside their enclosure — by pouting, swaying their bodies and bobbing their heads