Wild Chimpanzees Filmed by Scientists Eating and Sharing Alcoholic Fruit

For the first time, wild chimpanzees in west Africa have been pictured eating and sharing fruit containing alcohol, recently published findings from a research team at the University of Exeter revealed.The researchers used motion-activated cameras at Guinea-Bissau’s Cantanhez National Park, which filmed chimps sharing fermented fruits on 10 separate occasions.Footage of chimps sharing fermented African breadfruit, confirmed to contain ethanol (alcohol), raises fascinating questions about if and why chimps deliberately seek out alcohol.“For humans, we know that drinking alcohol leads to a release of dopamine and endorphins, and resulting feelings of happiness and relaxation,” Anna Bowland, from the University’s Centre for Ecology and Conservation, said.“We also know that sharing alcohol – including through traditions such as feasting – helps to form and strengthen social bonds.”“So, now we know that wild chimpanzees are eating and sharing ethanolic fruits, the question is: could they be getting similar benefits?” Bowland added.The University said humans are believed to have consumed alcohol far back into our evolutionary history, with benefits for social bonding. And the new study suggests our closest relatives might be doing something similar.“Chimps don’t share food all the time, so this behaviour with fermented fruit might be important,” said Exeter’s Dr Kimberley Hockings.“It suggests the human tradition of feasting may have its origins deep in our evolutionary history,” Hockings said. Credit: Bowland et al/Cantanhez Chimpanzee Project/University of Exeter via Storyful

For the first time, wild chimpanzees in west Africa have been pictured eating and sharing fruit containing alcohol, recently published findings from a research team at the University of Exeter revealed. The researchers used motion-activated cameras at Guinea-Bissau’s Cantanhez National Park, which filmed chimps sharing fermented fruits on 10 separate occasions. Footage of chimps sharing fermented African breadfruit, confirmed to contain ethanol (alcohol), raises fascinating questions about if and why chimps deliberately seek out alcohol.

“For humans, we know that drinking alcohol leads to a release of dopamine and endorphins, and resulting feelings of happiness and relaxation,” Anna Bowland, from the University’s Centre for Ecology and Conservation, said . “We also know that sharing alcohol – including through traditions such as feasting – helps to form and strengthen social bonds.” “So, now we know that wild chimpanzees are eating and sharing ethanolic fruits, the question is: could they be getting similar benefits?” Bowland added.

The University said humans are believed to have consumed alcohol far back into our evolutionary history, with benefits for social bonding. And the new study suggests our closest relatives might be doing something similar. “Chimps don’t share food all the time, so this behaviour with fermented fruit might be important,” said Exeter’s Dr Kimberley Hockings.

“It suggests the human tradition of feasting may have its origins deep in our evolutionary history,” Hockings said. Credit: Bowland et al/Cantanhez Chimpanzee Project/University of Exeter via Storyful.