ScienceDaily (Aug. 28, 2012) — Researchers have revealed that chimpanzees are not only capable of learning from one another, but also use this social information to form and maintain local traditions.
A research collaboration between the Gonzaga University and the Max Planck Institute shows that the way in which chimpanzees groom each other depends on the community to which they belong. Specifically, it is the unique handclasp grooming behaviour that reveals this local difference.
The specific behaviour that the researchers focused on was the 'grooming handclasp', a behaviour where two chimpanzees clasp onto each other's arms, raise those arms up in the air, and groom each other with their free arm. This behaviour has only been observed in some chimpanzee populations. The question remained whether chimpanzees are instinctively inclined to engage in grooming handclasp behaviour, or whether they learn this behaviour from each other and pass it on to subsequent generations.
What I understand is that researchers have discovered a tradition amoung chimpanzees. This social tradition consists in an unique handclasp that only several types of chimpanzee perform. Many zoologists have discovered that these types of handclasp makes them different for other chimpanzees. The handclasp done by the chimps consists in clasping its partner's hand and raising it into the air. And while they're doing that, they use the other hand to groom each other.
What interested me about this article? Now many secrets are being discovered. One of them is the secret social tradition of the chimpanzees community. Who would expect that chimpanzees comunicate with a handclasp? No one would expect that, but now, the zoologists showed us that nothing is imposible. And we had not proven that the animals have a peculiar tradition till today. Scientist have shown that the chimpanzees have a tradition, and that tradition is transimitted from parents to their young.
What are my connection with my life with this article? I always found interesting about secrets that the animals hide. And, since we don´t talk about this in my school, I use my time to read interesting facts about the animals behaviours.
Area of interaction: Environment, althought it is talking about traditions, still it can affect the chimpanzees enviroments.
To read more, go to: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120828190858.htm
Area of interaction: Environment, althought it is talking about traditions, still it can affect the chimpanzees enviroments.
To read more, go to: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120828190858.htm
