Bonobos and orangutans also exhibit the ability to plan for the future. This new discovery by scientists challenges the notion that humans are the only species capable of thinking ahead.
A German research team found that these primates could select an appropriate tool for a favorite game, store it away, and bring it back out to use for a reward several hours later.
Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology explained that planning for the future, rather than just the present, is one of the most significant cognitive achievements of humans. This is because it requires a long period of delay before any action is taken and rewarded.
The research team allowed bonobos and orangutans to choose tools to reach grapes or bottles of fruit juice. In half of the trials, they selected the appropriate tool for each scenario, stored it in a room, and 14 hours later brought it back out to receive a reward.
According to the researchers, both species demonstrated this skill, indicating that it evolved at least 14 million years ago, at a time when all great apes shared a common ancestor.
This is the first published evidence showing that primates can store tools for future use.
Similarly, the brown-headed cowbird, native to the Americas, exhibits a similar foresight. They store food around their nests to reduce the risk of theft.
T. An
