Bonobo Footsteps and Vocalizations Suggest Advanced Communication, Scientists Find

New research suggests that the peeps, cries, and groans of wild bonobos, a species of great apes living in Africa’s rainforests, can convey complex ideas in ways that resemble elements of human language.

According to a study published in the Journal Science, the closest living genetic relatives of humans can combine different calls to construct phrases that modify the meaning of another, challenging the notion that only humans possess such abilities.

Simon Townsend, a professor at the University of Zurich and the author of the study, stated that while language is not unique to humans, bonobos seem to exhibit language features in their communication systems.

Experts have found the research to be persuasive, suggesting that bonobos may be beyond chimpanzees in their communication abilities, with other species possibly exhibiting similar behaviors as well.

Witness

Melissa Bursett, the lead author of the University of Zurich study, spent about six months in the Democratic Republic of the Congo studying wild bonobos at the Kokoropoli Bonobo Reserve, documenting their various vocalizations and behaviors.

The study mapped over 700 vocal calls in relation to their meanings and highlighted instances where bonobos combined different calls to convey new meanings, demonstrating their complex communication abilities.

Researchers believe that bonobos, along with chimpanzees, share common ancestors with humans, providing insights into the evolution of language and communication among early humans.

The origin of language

Bonobos, with their sophisticated communication systems, serve as a link to understand the evolution of human language and shed light on how early humans developed complex forms of verbal communication.

The study raises questions about the ancient origins of human language and how bonobos and chimpanzees exhibit building blocks of communication that help in understanding the transition to more advanced languages in humans.

Despite the challenges in studying wild bonobos, researchers see them as a unique opportunity to reflect on human history and evolution, emphasizing the importance of preserving these endangered species.