Chimpanzees at a wildlife sanctuary in Zambia have started wearing grass or sticks in their ears as a social trend without practical use. Researchers found that this behavior began with one chimp and spread to her social group despite having no utility. The trend was observed by scientists who noted that chimps are proficient at both functional skills and socially driven, pointless habits. This phenomenon highlights the complexity of social learning among chimpanzees, akin to fashion in humans.
Researchers observed chimpanzees in Zambia adopting the fashion trend of wearing grass and sticks in their ears purely for social reasons, akin to human fads.
Dr. Jake Brooker noted the remarkable nature of these customs lacking any practical utility, likening them to chimpanzee fashion rather than survival techniques.
The trend started with one chimp placing grass in her ear, influencing her social circle to adopt the behavior, which persisted even after the trendsetter's death.
The study revealed that chimpanzees are not only skilled at learning useful techniques but also readily adopt completely useless habits through social learning.
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