Chimpanzees are adept problem-solvers but luck one important ability

Playful Chimpanzees

Chimpanzees are considered one of the most intelligent species on Earth and are the closest living relatives to humans, sharing about 98-99% of our DNA. Their intelligence shines in various ways, from tool use to social interactions, communication, and even problem-solving skills.

Tool Use and Problem-Solving

Chimpanzees are famous for their sophisticated tool use, which can vary significantly across different groups, suggesting cultural variations. For example, they have been observed using sticks to fish for termites or ants, using rocks to crack nuts, and even using leaves to collect water. Some chimpanzees also sharpen sticks to use as spears to hunt smaller animals, a behavior previously thought to be unique to humans.

Social Intelligence and Emotional Complexity

Chimpanzees have complex social structures and can form close bonds with others in their groups. Their communities are typically led by an alpha male, but power shifts can happen as others vie for leadership. Chimpanzees show deep emotional bonds, often comforting each other during stressful events and mourning when a group member dies. They also display empathy, altruism, and even jealousy, highlighting their sophisticated emotional lives.

Communication Skills

In addition to vocal calls, chimpanzees use gestures, facial expressions, and body language to communicate with each other. Like gorillas, some chimpanzees in captivity have been trained to understand and use sign language, demonstrating an ability to learn symbols and communicate ideas, requests, and emotions. Wild chimpanzees use a wide array of gestures, and some researchers suggest these gestures have meanings that may resemble aspects of language.

Problem Solving and Learning

Chimpanzees are adept problem-solvers and can learn through observation, imitation, and trial and error. They can pass on learned behaviors, which results in cultural transmission—another trait they share with humans. When faced with new challenges in captivity, chimpanzees have demonstrated innovative thinking, sometimes even figuring out how to use objects in entirely new ways to solve puzzles or obtain food rewards.

Self-Awareness and Intelligence Tests

Chimpanzees exhibit self-awareness, as shown by their ability to recognize themselves in mirrors, a test that indicates a sense of self. They also perform well on memory tasks, sometimes even surpassing humans in certain types of short-term memory tests. Researchers have found that young chimpanzees can quickly remember complex sequences of numbers, a surprising finding that highlights their impressive cognitive abilities.

Overall, chimpanzees are incredibly intelligent animals, displaying many of the qualities we associate with advanced cognition, such as planning, empathy, tool use, communication, and self-awareness. 

What Chimpanzees Lack

Chimpanzees cannot ask questions like humans do, as their communication lacks the complexity required for true question-asking. While they can learn some forms of sign language (such as American Sign Language, or ASL) or use symbols to communicate with humans, studies have shown they primarily use these signs or symbols to request things rather than to inquire about new information.


One notable example is a chimpanzee named Washoe, who was taught ASL. While Washoe and other primates in similar studies demonstrated an impressive ability to use signs to make statements, express emotions, or request items, there has been little evidence to suggest that they can use language to form genuine questions. This ability to ask about unknowns, or to seek clarification or further information, is something that appears to be unique to human language and thought processes

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