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chimpanzees and humans similarities and differences
chimpanzees and humans similarities and differences
, behavioral differences between chimps and bonobos
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Do chimpanzees exert human-like qualities? In the essay "Selections from Through a Window: My Thirty Years with the Chimpanzees of Gombe," Jane Goodall explains her studies of the chimpanzees and their human-like qualities. The scientific community does not believe that chimpanzees are like humans in any way. Goodall wants to prove that chimpanzees are more than just a mindless non-human animal; in fact, she believes that chimpanzees are the closest living relatives to humans and that they are a window to the truth that can never be fully revealed. By studying the chimpanzees, we humans will have a better understanding of how the nature of man has evolved from being chimp-like to evolving into Homo sapiens:
There are many similarities in chimpanzee and human behaviour--the affectionate, supportive and enduring bonds between family members, the long period of childhood dependency, the importance of learning, non-verbal communication patterns, tool-using and tool-making, cooperation in hunting, sophisticated social manipulations, aggressive territoriality, and a variety of helping b...
To start, research shows that there are a striking number of similarities between humans and chimpanzees in context to their social behavior.
Chimpanzees are a lot like humans in their behaviours. They are extremely smart since they are able to make and use tools and weapons. The female mothers are very affectionate and protective over the young and the rest of their family. The young chimps are also very dependant on their mother for necessities such as food, shelter and warmth.
This article, titled Common Ground, written by Barbara Smuts, points out the main differences between humans and apes, such as our upright stance, large brains, and capacity for spoken language and abstract reasoning. However, the main point of this article is to emphasize the many similarities that apes share with us. Smuts goes into great detail about how human social and emotional tendencies are very reflective in the family of apes.
While there are noticeable by differences in social conduct between these two primates, I argue that they are extra of similar behaviors than most books have suggested. This book portrays several reasons that modern views of bonobo and chimpanzee cultures may not harmonize well with ground data. Bonobos are derived since their behavior has been defined lately than that of chimpanzees, and the likelihood that explanations of bonobo-chimpanzee differences are echoes of human male-female alterations.
Although the practice of collecting animals have been present since 2500 B.C (Dunlap and Kellert), efforts to keep animals in a safe and natural habitat have been poorly consummated. Psychological manipulation has consequentially drawn chimpanzees to mental illness, as in the article “How Abnormal Is the Behavior of Captive, Zoo-Living Chimpanzees?” Lucy P. Birkett and Nicholas E. Newton-Fisher wrote, “Many chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) kept in laboratory housing settings show a variety of serious behavioral abnormalities, such as, repetitive rocking, drinking of urine, or self-mutilation.” Social and maternal separation for the benifit of reasearch are linked to psychological traumatic as well (Dunlap and Kellert). Although through history the service of zoos have been for entertainment, it is a trivial reason for holding chimpanzees in confidment. Subsequently, it is inhumane to take primates from the wild and place them in a zoo, commercial, or laboratory setting, which strips them of their ability to act naturally.
She is considered to be the worlds expert on chimpanzees and is known for her fifty-five year study of social interactions of wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania. She also has worked expansively on conservation and animal welfare issues. Goodall began studying in 1960 because she didn’t have training directing her research, Goodall payed closer attention to things that other professionals may have looked over. Instead of numbering the chimps Goodall observed, she gave them names. She witnessed these animals to have distinct personalities, which was an alternative idea at the time. Goodall found that, “it isn’t only human beings who have personality, who are capable of rational thought and emotions like joy and sorrow.” She observed many behaviors such as kisses, hugs, and tickling, which was considered only to be “human” interactions. Goodall reported that this is evidence of the supportive and loving bonds that develop amongst family members and other chimps within the community. Her findings suggest the connections and similarities between human and chimpanzees other than just genes alone, but can be seen in emotion, intellect, and domestic and social relationships. Goodall watched as chimps made and used tools in their everyday life, which challenged the belief that humans were the only toolmakers and users of them. In contrast to the affectionate
In primates such as chimpanzees it is imperative to look at their culture to understand their intelligence. Culture in this circumstance means a specific set of behaviors obtained through learning in a population/species. Chimpanzee’s intelligence is quite unique how they interact with their environment and use it to their benefit just like humans. They have the ability to overcome the obstacles of everyday life through learning and the ability to use tools to create a better quality of life. The complexity of their intellect is different from any other animal ever seen. A significant part of chimpanzee intelligence that sets them apart from other primates and puts them closer to humans is the way they exhibit social learning within their culture and interactions within their environment.
Quiatt, D., & Reynolds, V. (1993). Primate behaviour: information, social knowledge, and the evolution of culture. Cambridge [England: Cambridge University Press].
Celli, Maura L., Satoshi Hirata, and Masaki Tomonaga. "Socioecological Influences On Tool Use In Captive Chimpanzees." International Journal Of Primatology25.6 (2004): 1267-1281. Academic Search Premier. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.
According to National Geographic, scientists have sequenced the genome factor of the chimpanzee and found that humans are 98.5% similar to the ape species. The chimpanzee is our closest relative in the animal kingdom; however, some people are not aware of our resembling traits with chimpanzees. Jane Goodall’s, In the Shadow of Man, describes some similar traits humans and chimpanzees have such as their facial expressions and emotions, use of tools, and diet.
In his lecture, primatologist Robert Sapolsky explains the uniqueness of humans as well as our similarities to other primates. In doing so, he broke it down into six points of interest: aggression, theory of mind, the golden rule, empathy, pleasure in anticipation and gratification postponement, and lastly, culture. Professor Sapolsky approaches each point with interesting fact-based examples thus allowing me to gain insight on humans and other primates. Sapolsky’s knowledge of primates along with his scientific background allows him to make a clear argument that one cannot simply ignore.
chimpanzees are able to spread general behaviors but they are unable to share and maintain
All in all, learning about primates then getting to observe them is very interesting. I got to match the primate’s behaviors written in a book with how they act in person, and see for myself if it was what I expected. Observing them is far more fun than just reading about them, for example while I was sitting with the orangutans there was not a minute that went by where I wasn't smiling or laughing at what each individual ape was doing. Actually seeing certain primates interact with each other whether it be grooming, hugging,or playing, put into perspective just how much they act like humans. By observing and doing research, this will better our understanding between the differences and similarities of non-human primates and ourselves as humans.
Chimpanzees are genetically more similar to humans than other animals, including the apes. They are noted as being 98-99% genetically identical to humans, which has been recently confirmed (NEAVS).
Chimpanzees are described as humans’ nearest relatives in the animals’ world. There are two species of these intelligent apes and both share about 99 per cent of their DNA with humans, which means that genetically they have more in common with human than with gorillas or orangutans. However, chimpanzees are described based on four major characteristics which are the physical, living behavior, feeding behavior and reproductive behavior (refer to Figure 1 in Appendix 1).