Apes
Like Humans, Some Bonobos Cooperate With Outsiders
We might not be the only primates to display helpful behavior toward members of a different social group, a new study suggests
Wild Female Chimpanzees Go Through Menopause, Study Finds
Until now, menopause had not been documented in wild, non-human animals, except for a few species of toothed whales
Celebrate World Gorilla Day With 15 Primate Pictures
These highlights from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest feature our close “cousins”
What the Largest-Ever Study of Primate DNA Reveals About Ourselves
The findings cover not only conservation and primate evolution, but also human health and diseases
See the Endangered Gorilla Born at the National Zoo
The baby western lowland gorilla is the zoo's first since 2018
Early Apes Lived on Savannas, Not in Forests
Two new studies suggest that 21 million years ago African primates frequented edge habitat and fed on leaves
Great Apes Love to Spin Around—Here's Why
A recent study suggests that apes, like humans, seek out altered mental states
Human Ancestors May Have Evolved to Walk Upright in Trees
Research on wild chimpanzees suggests searching for food in tree branches drove bipedalism
Three Baby Chimpanzees Kidnapped and Held for Ransom
The abductors are demanding a six-figure sum to return the animals to their sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Evolutionary Trait That May Have Led to Human Speech
“Vocal membranes” in primates make their speech grating and unpredictable, study suggests. Humans have no such thing
Gorillas Make a New ‘Snough’ Noise to Grab Their Keepers’ Attention
Researchers have never observed gorillas making the unusual sound in the wild, suggesting that captive gorillas can learn to make new noises
Rainforest Chimpanzees Seen Digging Wells for the First Time
The primates may be burrowing for cleaner water
Chimpanzees Appear to Use Insects to Treat Their Wounds
In a first, chimps in Gabon were seen applying insects to sores on themselves—and others, a possible show of empathy
How Do Gorillas Get Heart Disease? And More Questions From Our Readers
You've got questions. We've got experts
Bonobos and Chimps Appear to Have 'Hello' and 'Goodbye' Greetings
Like humans, these apes share salutations to start and end interactions
Puppies Are Born Ready to Communicate With Humans
A new study finds very young dogs with little human contact can understand pointing gestures—and that the ability has a strong genetic basis
Gorillas Beat Their Chests to Communicate With Each Other
The larger male apes have lower frequencies in their pounds and may use chest-beating to signal their social status, strength, and size to others
Experiments Find Gene Key to the Human Brain's Large Size
The single gene identified by the study may be what makes human brains three times larger than our closest great ape relatives at birth
Czech Chimpanzees Use Video Calls to Fight Lockdown Blues
Zookeepers at Safari Park Dvůr Králové and a zoo in Brno set up daily video calls for their chimpanzees
San Diego Zoo's Great Apes Receive First Experimental Covid-19 Vaccine for Animals
Five bonobos and four orangutans were treated with a synthetic form of the virus
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