Chimpanzees: Almost Human, and Sometimes Smarter

Scientists continue to work with chimps. Their research shows that chimps are not just some dumb monkeys.

Observed in the wild and tested in captivity, chimpanzees invite comparison with humans, their close relatives. They bear a family resemblance that fascinates people, and scientists see increasing evidence of similarities in chimp behavior and skills, making some of them think on the vagaries of evolution...

Chimps display a remarkable range of behavior and talent. They make and use simple tools, hunt in groups and engage in aggressive, violent acts. They are social creatures that appear to be capable of empathy, altruism, self-awareness, cooperation in problem solving and learning through example and experience. Chimps even outperform humans in some memory tasks.

It also seems they have the seemingly human characteristic of wanting to look under women's shirts and hold elected office.

Some folks think that chimpanzees are nearly human. I maintain that until chimps develop such things as central banking, horticultural prohibition, property leasing, and weapons of mass destruction, they will never be as dumb as we are.