Bonobos Demonstrate Shared Pretend Play with Humans, Kanzi's Groundbreaking Study
#bonobos #animal_cognition #pretend_play #conservation #kanzi
Bonobos Engage in Pretend Play Like Human Children
Children delight in imaginary tea parties and teddy bear classrooms, a form of pretend play long thought uniquely human. A groundbreaking study reveals bonobos share this talent, challenging our understanding of animal cognition. Researchers at Johns Hopkins tested Kanzi, a 43-year-old enculturated bonobo skilled in lexigrams and verbal responses.
Kanzi Masters Imaginary Scenarios
In tea-party experiments, Kanzi watched experimenters pretend to pour juice into empty cups or place grapes in jars, then accurately pointed to their locations—up to 69% success across trials. Unlike real-food tests with rewards, pretend trials brought no frustration, confirming he tracked **pretend objects** mentally. This marks the first experimental proof of shared pretense in apes, beyond solitary acts like chimpanzees cradling sticks as infants.
Implications for Ape Intelligence
These findings suggest bonobos form secondary representations, grasping ideas as unreal yet trackable. They bolster evidence apes infer mental states, urging tests on wild apes and other species. Conservationists hope this highlights bonobos' remarkable minds, inspiring efforts to protect them.
About the Organizations Mentioned
Johns Hopkins
**Johns Hopkins University** is a prestigious private research institution founded in 1876 in Baltimore, Maryland, and is recognized as the first research university in the United States[3]. The university pioneered a novel educational model based on the European research institution framework, particularly drawing inspiration from Heidelberg University and Wilhelm von Humboldt's educational philosophy[3]. This foundational approach fundamentally transformed American higher education from a teaching-focused model to one centered on scientific discovery and knowledge advancement[3]. Today, Johns Hopkins operates as a complex entity structured around two corporations: the university and The Johns Hopkins Health System, established in 1986[3]. The institution is organized into nine academic divisions, including the Whiting School of Engineering, School of Medicine, School of Public Health, School of Nursing, and School of Business, among others[3]. It maintains 140 acres in northern Baltimore and operates as one of the smallest national research universities by enrollment, which paradoxically grants undergraduates exceptional access to world-class equipment, resources, and internationally recognized faculty[2]. In 2026, Johns Hopkins has emerged as a **global technical powerhouse** merging its medical dominance with cutting-edge capabilities in artificial intelligence, robotics, and data science[1]. The university has become a primary hub for human-centered AI with an "ethics first" approach, leveraging massive datasets from Johns Hopkins Hospital to develop predictive healthcare models and genomic data science algorithms[1]. Beyond Baltimore, Johns Hopkins has significantly expanded its presence in Washington, D.C., completing the purchase of a 13-story building with over 150,000 square feet to support growing faculty and student workspace needs[4]. The Hopkins Bloomberg Center now hosts high-profile speakers and programming focused on technology, policy, and social innovation, including initiatives like the Ward Infinity accelerator program supporting D.C. entrepreneurs addressing health and environmental challenges[
