Primate Social Lives

Chimpanzees are known for using tools in clever ways. But could they also build culture over time, like humans do? By combining genetic data to trace connections between groups with tool-use observations from across Africa, we found that their most complex toolsets are shared between groups, especially through migrating females, suggesting their culture can spread and grow throughout time.

"I’m not going if I don't know anyone” - sounds all too familiar? Well, it’s not just humans. Socialising in a new group can be tricky. We often rely on word of mouth and friends-of-friends connections. Our research on moutain gorillas suggests they may be using a similar strategy: when moving to a new social group, female gorillas seek out groups containing females they have lived with in the past.