Chimps have been caught on camera sharing ‘boozy’ fruit for the first time.
Chimpanzees were pictured in the wild eating and sharing fruit containing alcohol.
The ground-breaking images were captured by a research team led by University of Exeter scientists who set up cameras in Cantanhez National Park, Guinea-Bissau.
They say the footage of the primates sharing fermented African breadfruit, confirmed to contain ethanol – the type of alcohol used in alcoholic drinks, raises questions about if and why chimps deliberately seek out booze.
Humans are believed to have consumed alcohol way back into our evolutionary history, with benefits for social bonding.
Researchers say their findings, published in the journal Current Biology, suggest our closest relatives might be doing something similar.
Anna Bowland, from Exeter’s Centre for Ecology and Conservation, said: “For humans, we know that drinking alcohol leads to a release of dopamine and endorphins, and resulting in feelings of happiness and relaxation.
“We also know that sharing alcohol, including through traditions such as feasting, helps to form and strengthen social bonds.
“So – now we know that wild chimpanzees are eating and sharing ethanolic fruits – the question is: could they be getting similar benefits?”
The research team used motion-activated cameras, which filmed chimps sharing fermented fruits on 10 separate occasions.
Fruit shared by the chimps was tested for alcohol content. The highest level found was the equivalent of 0.61% Alcohol By Volume (ABV), a measure used in alcoholic drinks.
That is relatively low as, for example, most beers, lagers and ciders served in pubs have an ABV of between 3.5% and 5%.
But the researchers say it may be the “tip of the iceberg”, as 60% to 85% of chimps’ diet is fruit – so low levels of alcohol in various foods could tot up to “significant” consumption.
The researchers stress that chimps are unlikely to get “drunk” – as that would not improve their survival chances.
The impact of alcohol on chimps’ metabolism is unknown.
But recent discoveries of a molecular adaptation that greatly increased ethanol metabolism in the common ancestor of African apes suggests eating fermented fruits may have ancient origins in species including humans and chimps.
Dr. Kimberley Hockings, also from the University of Exeter, said: “Chimps don’t share food all the time, so this behaviour with fermented fruit might be important.
“We need to find out more about whether they deliberately seek out ethanolic fruits and how they metabolise it, but this behaviour could be the early evolutionary stages of ‘feasting’.”
She added: “If so, it suggests the human tradition of feasting may have its origins deep in our evolutionary history.”
Source: Talker News / Digpu NewsTex
