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Study Suggests Bonobo Kanzi Can Play Pretend Like Children
Scientists tested bonobo Kanzi with an imaginary tea party, finding he could identify pretend objects' locations, hinting apes share humans' make-believe ability once thought unique.
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1. Can apes play pretend? Scientists use an imaginary tea party to find out A new experiment hints that an ape may be able to play pretend like humans do. Scientists studied a bonobo named Kanzi who was raised in captivity and became a whiz at communicating with humans using graphic symbols. They found… --- 2. Bonobos can play make-believe much like children, study suggests <p>An ape was able to identify the location of imaginary objects in pretend scenarios, researchers find<br><br></p><p>Whether it’s playing at being doctors or hosting a toy’s tea party, children are adept at engaging in make-believe – now researchers say bonobos can do it too.</p><p>While there have been anecdotal reports of apes using imaginary objects, including apparently dragging pretend blocks across the floor, experts say it is possible such instances have other explanations.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/feb/05/bonobos-animal-behaviour-study-engage-make-believe">Continue reading...</a> --- 3. Can apes play pretend? Scientists use an imaginary tea party to find out A new experiment hints that an ape may be able to play pretend like humans do. --- 4. Can apes play pretend? Scientists use an imaginary tea party to find out A new experiment hints that an ape may be able to play pretend like humans do --- 5. Can apes play pretend? Scientists use an imaginary tea party to find out NEW YORK (AP) — By age 2, most kids know how to play pretend. They turn their bedrooms into faraway castles and hold make-believe tea parties. The ability to make something out of nothing may seem uniquely human — a bedrock of creativity that’s led to new kinds of art, music and more. Now, for […] --- 6. At a Bonobo’s ‘Tea Party,’ Scientists Find Hints of Imagination By playing pretend with an ape, scientists found a human hallmark in our closest living relative: the capacity for make-believe. --- 7. A bonobo tea party: Study shows humans aren't the only species that can pretend - NBC News <ol><li><a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimgFBVV95cUxQTWRhZlNGb2xCeTd0MTlhX3NYU2hfVlhOYTMwWUdhaFE1TnFXU3VCSEV5RG1KQTN2aTJSQkNEdWIwR3daUHFOX2VMemJ4NUtKUDZmLXZ3VURYUU9BVkFOTkxGMXBLZGFfcVZvZEZVM0ZvYkREY3R1RThESUJrZHJzcHczZ2t5NWRKTlhDb21Ld3NHRHFhbWozTFN3?oc=5" target="_blank">A bonobo tea party: Study shows humans aren't the only species that can pretend</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">NBC News</font></li><li><a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMidkFVX3lxTE5yN1VTdVp3clQyRF9LRDh0NmkyMVRmZ0NIM3JiTWUybzh1S3l6VzU2WkpYX1VBdENwTkxuZktjSGEyblZ2Z3l3SXZyb2ZsZGZqSHdjN3VfcGhTMnJtVlljNkhUYkVOdUtXZ3RkQ3Z2MmdtS2tUYlE?oc=5" target="_blank">Apes share human ability to imagine</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">Johns Hopkins University</font></li><li><a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuAFBVV95cUxOdkdkVEVLUFlUT2VnWlRPUjhsZlkxM3o2cjl6U0FvcFFxV3BoRTA2Nlh5RjIyVHB5S0FFLUVEbGRkeGlLSVgxaGFtMy1pSEZ6QmxRTW81andGRlRBVVh3ZGppd0dIT2VESm9Sak1DakVnLWE0ek1va24zRUtWV2JaQU5GdmlRcFF0VlVvdktHOFJMUDdJMThwa0QzMTFCbEt3TGRVVzQ4Y1Itdi14dGoySUJvQkNSRlRq?oc=5" target="_blank">Kanzi the bonobo could play pretend — a trait thought unique to humans</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">Live Science</font></li><li><a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinwFBVV95cUxNSVY5emlMejJvdFNsTjJlOXVuaTN0dFplUW4wY0ZyaVJ4WFJGRTlWZ3YxWDJmaXpEcjlscGZkQTNpd2FTVXVqWmRWWDBuanJhSGZVa3h0YnBEN2N3NG9Zcmp5RW5zUURFQ3BhV1pRT1FpT1Z3dUJiOWh6c3lQVGxQdzdQMW5xYW1RY29uN1lGWHBBdENpTVp5ektCcWVoZlE?oc=5" target="_blank">Bonobos can play make-believe much like children, study suggests</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">The Guardian</font></li><li><a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxNdC1YdzAtdUxuNnBEcTJkeC1sS0JtU3A3U0szVkxwbmJpclpOWEZfZGtTbWVGRlp4Vk9fLTNxUTdxMWFtaloxaFFsN2hkc3NFdVpBd0d0NjFfMVlVRGxwbGdTYkdKUmYtRFZ3QzV0QXhSSnNIVktKMk9vWjd4a0dwRlBiMU05YXJsUkYwaXIyYm1BdGZqbERjWGV2X3JpRHdaRWJ3VGl3?oc=5" target="_blank">Do apes have an imagination? A new study suggests Kanzi the bonobo did</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">Scientific American</font></li></ol> --- 8. Do apes have imagination? A tea party experiment offers clues <p>Scientists wondered whether Kanzi, the bonobo, had the capacity to play pretend </p> --- 9. Can apes play pretend? Scientists use an imaginary tea party to find out A new experiment hints that an ape may be able to play pretend like humans do. --- 10. Can Apes Play Pretend? Scientists Use an Imaginary Tea Party to Find out <p>NEW YORK (AP) — By age 2, most kids know how to play pretend. They turn their bedrooms into faraway castles and hold make-believe tea parties.</p>