What if I told you that bonobos—our primate cousins—are capable of something we once believed was uniquely human?
New research is shattering long-held assumptions about the intelligence of our closest relatives.
Scientists have discovered that bonobos can recognize when someone lacks information and step in to help—just like humans do.
This discovery could rewrite our understanding of primate cognition, suggesting that our ability to perceive knowledge gaps in others might not be so uniquely human after all.
And it all started with a simple game of hide-and-seek.
A Game That Changed Everything
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University devised a clever experiment to test how bonobos process what others know—or don’t know.
The setup? A human researcher hid treats under cups while three male bonobos watched.
But there was a twist: sometimes, the researcher knew where the treat was hidden, and other times, they didn’t.
When the researcher appeared confused, the bonobos reacted differently.
They pointed more quickly at the correct cup, as if realizing, Hey, this human has no clue—I better help them out.
This simple act might not seem groundbreaking at first glance, but it suggests a profound cognitive ability: the recognition that someone else lacks knowledge and the motivation to fill in the gap.
Until now, this ability—often referred to as the Theory of Mind—was considered a uniquely human trait.
Breaking the Barrier Between Humans and Apes
For decades, scientists assumed that primates, while highly intelligent, did not possess the same level of social awareness as humans.
Yes, we knew they could communicate and collaborate within their groups—like alerting each other to predators—but actively identifying and addressing another’s ignorance?
That was a different level of intelligence altogether.
This new study suggests otherwise. The ability to understand when someone else is uninformed is a cognitive milestone in intelligence.
In fact, it forms the foundation of many human social interactions, from teaching a child how to tie their shoes to warning someone about a hidden danger.
According to psychologist Chris Krupenye, one of the study’s lead researchers, this discovery suggests that primates possess “rich capacities” for understanding others’ thoughts—capacities that some experts have long denied them.
The Science Behind the Breakthrough
The experiment involved a series of trials where bonobos had to choose whether to help a clueless researcher or one who already knew where the treat was hidden.
The results were striking:
- Bonobos were more likely to gesture and point when the researcher was unaware of the treat’s location.
- They made their gestures faster in these cases, as if trying to bridge the knowledge gap.
- Their actions weren’t driven by self-interest—they weren’t getting extra rewards for pointing.
These findings echo previous research on apes warning each other about potential dangers, but this study removes elements of survival instinct and group dynamics.
Instead, it zooms in on individual cognitive processing.
Are Apes More Like Us Than We Realized?
For years, scientists debated whether primates possess a true Theory of Mind—the ability to recognize that others have knowledge, beliefs, or perspectives different from their own.
Some argued that primates could mimic social cues without truly understanding them, while others believed their intelligence had been underestimated.
This experiment provides compelling evidence that bonobos are not just reacting instinctively—they are actively considering what another being knows (or doesn’t know) and adjusting their behavior accordingly.
“There are debates in the field about the capabilities of primates,” says Krupenye.
For us, it was exciting to confirm that they really do have these rich capacities that some people have denied them.”
What’s Next? Unraveling the Depths of Primate Intelligence
This study opens the door to even more questions:
- Do bonobos understand the concept of belief, or just knowledge?
- Can they recognize when someone has incorrect information, rather than just missing information?
- How does this ability compare to that of young human children?
Future studies may explore these questions with more complex experiments. Researchers are already designing new tests to determine whether bonobos can distinguish between different types of mental states—something that could push our understanding of primate intelligence even further.
Why This Matters Beyond the Lab
Understanding bonobo intelligence isn’t just about academic curiosity—it has real-world implications. If primates share more cognitive traits with humans than we previously thought, it strengthens the case for their conservation and ethical treatment.
Bonobos are already critically endangered, with their natural habitats being destroyed by deforestation and poaching. Recognizing their cognitive abilities could help bolster conservation efforts, encouraging stronger legal protections and more ethical research practices.
A New Era in Primate Research
What this study ultimately shows is that intelligence is not a binary—either human or non-human—but rather a spectrum.
Bonobos, it turns out, sit much closer to us on that spectrum than we previously realized.
And if they can recognize when someone needs help filling in a knowledge gap, who knows what else they’re capable of?
Perhaps we’ve only scratched the surface of primate cognition. One thing is clear: our closest relatives are a lot smarter than we ever gave them credit for.
