Chimpanzee Culture and Learning

Another experiment by Victoria Horner illustrating that different groups of chimpanzees have culture and learning abilities unique to each group. Two chimpanzees are taught two different methods of acquiring a treat, and then sent back to teach their groups and pass the information on.

To put it in context, note that the documentary follows the host travelling to various regions to examine various ape studies, and putting forth the idea that "chimpanzees are people" to gauge opinions and reactions to this notion.

A clip from the BBC Horizon documentary, "Chimps are People, Too".

More Information:
http://calvin.st-andrews.ac.uk/external_relations/news_article.cfm?reference=833
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/horizon/broadband/tx/chimps/

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[NoDeity]

In anthropology, according to dictionary d o t c o m, culture is defined as "the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another." In this experiment, the chimps are transmitting at least one "way of living".

[CosmosPhile]

Great video. if he defined what he means by 'people,' the question might get different answers. Are chimpanzees humans? no. But, for example, if he said he defines people as beings that are conscious, emotional, complex, worthy of respect and protection... i bet she would have answered 'yes.' in that case, people= sentient.

[tubeother]

In the other vid is said that children copy the instructor's actions but the chimpanzee don't. So how do they are sharing knowledge in the other experiment?

[danceljoy]

she kinda looks kile drew barrymore :)

[Frankwolf100]

@LukeShetler culture is something which gets passed down from one generation to another, so why can't chimps have that? It's already been proven chimps have various cultures.

[katie89100]

@yummytv101 It has been 6 million years since our last common ancestor with chimps and since then we have each had our own separate lineages, so therefore chimps can't be classed as human. Theres no such thing as 'haven't evolved completely', as evolution is never 'complete'. We are similar in many ways to chimps but we mustn't assume that we know how chimps are thinking when they complete a task that seems humanlike. They may not think the same/ as much as we do, they have a much smaller brain.

[yummytv101]

OF COURSE THEY ARE HUMAN IF THEY WEREN'T THEN WHY ARE CHIMPS COUSINS OF US..SO WHAT YOU SAYING IS WE CAME OR EVOLVED FROM NON-HUMANS..THAT WOULD MAKE US NON-HUMAN..SO YES CHIMPS ARE HUMAN THEY JUST HAVEN'T EVOVED COMPLETELY LIKE US ...

[Leviathan82nd]

these to tribes will soon go to war with each other over who's way of getting the treat is the right way.

[IceTeaEdwin]

I am of the poker clan >->

[AbsolutelyCrackers]

To all the people going "they don't conclude anything from this, it's just one simple experiment" etc etc,read more about chimps in the wild you would know that each troop has their own different ways of doing things and simple traditions that go down generations, each troop are unique in their cultural differences. For example certain groups clasp hands when grooming, one group rips leaves when they want attention, there is one group that can deactivate snares. They are cultured animals.

[monkeytwineball]

I think it's rhythm that separates us. Can't teach monkeys to dance.