Kanzi, a 31-year-old male bonobo (a type of ape), lives at the Great Ape Trust in Iowa. He enjoys doing many of the same things humans like to do—eating, playing with toys, and even reading and typing at a computer.

That’s right—scientists working with Kanzi have taught him the meaning of more than 300 symbols, called lexigrams. The lexigrams represent objects, such as “key” or “bowl,” as well as actions, like “tickle” or “chase.”

Kanzi uses a keyboard to type these symbols to communicate with researchers. He can also point to the symbols on a laminated sheet.

Scientists first tried to teach the symbols to Kanzi’s mother, Matata. When he was an infant, Kanzi would play in the background while his mother tried to learn. One day, Kanzi surprised the scientists by using the symbols correctly.

Kanzi is the first ape to have learned primitive (very simple or basic) language naturally, rather than by being taught directly. He even used his language skills to help scientists write a research paper. It is the first research paper ever co-authored by a non-human.

The Great Ape Trust’s research is important because it can teach us more about what separates humans from animals. Like many great apes, bonobos are an endangered species. This means their species could die out without help from humans. Scientists at the Great Ape Trust hope their work brings attention to the dangers facing this complex species.

SPEAKING WITH SIMIANS

Kanzi has also shown scientists that bonobos may have a language specific to their species. Dr. Sue Savage-Rumbaugh, a scientist working with the bonobo, performed an experiment. She put Kanzi and his sister, Panbanisha, in separate rooms. They could hear but not see each other.

Dr. Savage-Rumbaugh used the symbols to tell Kanzi he would receive yogurt. Then she told Kanzi to communicate this to Panbanisha. Kanzi made a noise, and his sister responded. Panbanisha then selected the lexigram for “yogurt.”

The researchers at the Great Ape Trust have also taught Kanzi how to use matches. He can gather wood and build a fire. He uses the fire to roast marshmallows! Kanzi is now teaching his son Teco how to make a fire.

In his spare time, Kanzi likes to watch DVDs with his bonobo family. The researchers call them the “Wamba” family, after a famous bonobo habitat. One of the Wamba family favorites is Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan.

But Kanzi and his family, and other bonobos around the world, still need help. To learn more about how to support bonobos and the Great Ape trust, visit www.bonobohope.org.