Monkeys are known for their intelligence and often exhibit behaviors that are surprisingly human-like. Here are a few instances where their actions have mirrored ours in remarkable ways:
The Vending Machine
An adorable video captures a monkey using a vending machine. With some money from a human friend, the monkey quickly climbs to the machine, inserts the cash, checks the options, and successfully retrieves a drink. This behavior showcases not just intelligence but also an ability to learn and mimic human actions, even showing excitement and understanding of the process.
Stealing Food
A photo shows a monkey stealing food from a woman’s grocery bag. The incident was intense, with the monkey edging closer until it started pulling on her greens. This situation raises a debate: Is the monkey a clever problem-solver or a menace?
A Fair Trade
In Bali Zoo, an orangutan demonstrates shrewd negotiation skills by trading items with visitors for snacks. While it’s unclear what exactly the orangutan traded, the cleverness of engaging in a give-and-take transaction is evident. This behavior reflects a sophisticated understanding of exchange, a concept familiar to humans.
Room Service
A chimpanzee at a zoo requests a drink from a tourist’s grocery bag. Spotting a bottle of Mountain Dew, the chimp gestures for the woman to pour it through a gap in the glass barrier, indicating a precise understanding of his environment and how to interact with humans to get what he wants.
Leading a Dog
In a heartwarming video, a monkey dressed adorably leads a tiny dog across a series of stones over a lake. When faced with a challenging final jump, the monkey easily makes it while the dog hesitates but eventually follows. This demonstrates leadership and cooperation, traits highly valued in human society.
Using Social Media
A video shows a chimpanzee effortlessly browsing Instagram, swiping through videos and showing a clear preference for those featuring monkeys. This interaction not only highlights the chimp’s ability to use technology but also suggests an understanding of content preference, a distinctly human trait.
Grocery Store Helpers
In some parts of Asia, monkeys assist with grocery shopping. A video shows a man with two monkeys helping him buy fruit and even paying for it. These monkeys act almost like children, showcasing their ability to learn and perform tasks that require coordination and understanding of human commerce.
Hells Angels Monkey
Street shows in Indonesia often feature monkeys performing various tricks. In one video, a monkey rides a miniature motorcycle, posing for the crowd. While these shows raise ethical questions, they also highlight the monkeys’ ability to learn complex tasks and entertain humans.
Opening the Window
An orangutan in a zoo uses plant stems to pry open glass barriers, potentially to get visitors to pass him food or plan an escape. This behavior indicates problem-solving skills and an understanding of how to manipulate objects in their environment.
Puzzle Solvers
Monkeys excel in solving puzzles. In experiments, they quickly figure out how to use tools to retrieve food, often showing teamwork and fairness by sharing the rewards. These problem-solving abilities and cooperative behaviors are comparable to human interactions in challenging situations.
Washing Clothes
A video from a Chinese theme park shows a chimpanzee washing clothes, an activity it took up on its own. This self-initiated behavior demonstrates not just intelligence but also an inclination towards engaging in human-like chores.
Coconut Picking
Trained monkeys are employed to pick coconuts, efficiently climbing trees and retrieving the fruits. This partnership between humans and monkeys is a testament to their ability to be trained for specific tasks, showcasing both their physical agility and cognitive skills.
Innovative Swing
A monkey, perhaps bored in its enclosure, creates a swing using fabric, tying it securely to the cage edges. This ingenuity in crafting a leisure activity mirrors human creativity and resourcefulness.
Nut Puzzle
Monkeys are given puzzles where they have to retrieve nuts using small branches. Their quick and effective problem-solving skills highlight their cognitive abilities and showcase a methodical approach to challenges.
These examples highlight the remarkable intelligence and adaptability of monkeys, often drawing parallels with human behavior and showcasing their capacity for learning, problem-solving, and social interaction.
