According a work published by scientists Janni Pedersen, PhD of Iowa State University, Pär Segerdahl, Swedish scientist, and William M. Fielder, scientific director of the sanctuary, “Bonobos Kanzi, Panbanisha and Nyota have been acquiring the ability to understand our language and talk to us pointing to a lexigram they use to communicate.”

These conclusions are important because they indicate that, through creativity and training – just like with humans – it is possible that great primates develop the ability to communicate with us and understand us.

Some researchers in the past, like Michael Tomasello, from Max Planck Evolutionary Anthropology of Germany, put in doubt that the gesture of chimpanzees and bonobos in captivity pointing to symbols had the purpose of communication.

This wok by researches of Iowa indicates clearly that it is possible, through creativity and contact with humans, to develop the ability of primates’ communication, because they know how to make people understand them and comprehend what we are saying at the same time.

More information: http://www.greatapetrust.org/media/releases/2009/nr_39a09.php

Dr. Pedro A Ynterian