Remarkable rare footage published by the BBC with an article by Victoria Gill on 14.10.2013 shows how an ape jumps towards another young ape who is fearfully screaming after being attacked, clearly showing empathy.
Young bonobos that are more “socially competent” are more likely to cuddle and calm other apes that are in distress, research published in PNAS Journal has revealed.
Scientists working at an African sanctuary found that bonobos that recovered quickly from an upsetting experience, such as a fight, were also more likely to comfort others.
This mirrors findings from studies in children, and suggests bonobos manage their emotions in a very similar way.
Bonobos are already known as the “empathic apes”. Previous studies have documented their responses to other’s emotions.
Prof Frans de Waal from Yerkes National Primate Research Center at Emory University in Atlanta, said these new results revealed that their ability to console one another was part of this empathy.
www.bbc.co.uk
Comments are closed.