Scientists in the Dark as Chimpanzees are Photographed with Drums in the Wild

Recent studies indicate that wild chimpanzees exhibit a natural talent for drumming, tapping to the rhythms present in their environment.

A significant international collaboration involving researchers from Europe, Africa, and America has concluded that chimpanzees drum with intentional rhythms, striking the trunks and roots of trees as they move and vocalize. These discoveries offer scientists valuable insights into the potential origins of human musicality.

“Humans are fundamentally rhythmic beings,” stated Professor Katherine Hofighter from St Andrews University in an interview with BBC Science Focus. “Rhythms permeate our music, dance, and songs, and even in our conversations. This may be part of our evolutionary inheritance, as it is a universal trait among humans.”

To investigate the roots of this rhythm, researchers turned to our closest living relatives.

“Since both language and music are non-fossilized skills, it’s impossible to find them in the geological record and trace their evolution,” remarked the study’s lead author, Vesta Eleuteri from the University of Vienna in an interview with BBC Science Focus. “We must examine other species and investigate the foundational elements that may precede the development of language and music.”

Hobaiter added: “This demonstrates that the elements of rhythm existed long before humans evolved into humans.”

Recently published research in Current Biology represents the culmination of years of meticulous observations and analyses, encompassing 371 recorded chimpanzee drumming encounters across 11 wild chimpanzee communities in West and East Africa.

“People often underestimate the time commitment required to gather this data,” explains Hobaiter. “While the forest is my happy place, it sometimes means decades of research at each location.”

All recordings were carefully collected, coded, and analyzed. The researchers measured the duration of each drumming sequence, the intervals between hits, and the variability of the rhythms, concluding that these rhythms were not random.

Moreover, individual chimpanzees showcase their own unique styles of drumming. Regional variations also exist among different chimpanzee communities and subspecies.

For instance, West African chimpanzees tend to maintain regular spacing between drum hits, whereas East African chimpanzees display a mix of shorter and longer rhythms.

While the reasons for these differences remain unclear—Hobaiter mentioned they “got a bit crazy”—Eleuteri proposed these variations might stem from social or cultural differences among chimpanzee subspecies.

Habaiter emphasized that these rhythmic distinctions highlight the importance of conservation efforts: “Every group of chimpanzees holds unique significance.”

“Recognizing that distinct populations or subspecies have unique differences is crucial for preservation,” she asserted. “Losing any group could result in the disappearance of a unique culture, music, or rhythmic heritage that can never be restored.”

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About Our Experts

Vesta Eleuteri is a doctoral student at the Faculty of Behavior and Cognitive Biology at the University of Vienna, focusing on African elephant communication. She has previously researched chimpanzee drumming at the University of Rome and the University of St Andrews.

Katherine Hofighter is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at St. Andrews University, with 15 years of experience studying primates in Uganda and across Africa. Her research group, The Wild Minds Lab, emphasizes long-term field studies on communication and cognition in wild African apes. She has spent nearly six months in the field and has recently established new research sites in Uganda (Bugoma Primate Conservation Project) and Guinea (Moenvating Chimpanzee Project).