Posted on 05/09/2025 5:44:34 AM PDT by Red Badger
Two adult males feed on fermented African breadfruit. Credit: Bowland et al., edited
Wild chimps share fruit containing alcohol, suggesting deep evolutionary links between fermented food and social behavior.
For the first time, wild chimpanzees have been observed eating and sharing fruit that contains alcohol.
A research team from the University of Exeter installed cameras in Guinea-Bissau’s Cantanhez National Park to monitor the behavior.
The footage captured chimpanzees sharing fermented African breadfruit, which was confirmed to contain ethanol. This discovery raises intriguing questions about whether chimpanzees intentionally consume alcohol and what effects it might have on their behavior.
Alcohol and social bonding in humans and chimps
In humans, alcohol consumption is believed to date back deep into evolutionary history and is often associated with social bonding.
And the new study suggests our closest relatives might be doing something similar.
“For humans, we know that drinking alcohol leads to a release of dopamine and endorphins, and resulting feelings of happiness and relaxation,” said Anna Bowland, from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall.
Chimpanzees sharing fruit. Credit: Bowland et al. “We also know that sharing alcohol, including through traditions such as feasting, helps to form and strengthen social bonds.
“So – now we know that wild chimpanzees are eating and sharing ethanolic fruits – the question is: could they be getting similar benefits?”
Chimpanzees filmed sharing low-alcohol fruit
The researchers used motion-activated cameras, which filmed chimps sharing fermented fruits on 10 separate occasions.
Fruit shared by these chimps was tested for alcohol content. The highest level found was the equivalent of 0.61% ABV (Alcohol By Volume – a measure used in alcoholic drinks).
This is relatively low. But the researchers say it may be the “tip of the iceberg”, as 60-85% of chimps’ diet is fruit, so low levels of alcohol in various foods could add up to significant consumption.
Evolutionary roots of alcohol metabolism
The researchers stress that chimps are unlikely to get “drunk” – as this would clearly not improve their survival chances.
Two adult females feed on a remnant of fermented African breadfruit. Credit: Bowland et al. The impact of alcohol on chimps’ metabolism is unknown. But recent discoveries of a molecular adaptation that greatly increased ethanol metabolism in the common ancestor of African apes suggest eating fermented fruits may have ancient origins in species, including humans and chimps.
“Chimps don’t share food all the time, so this behavior with fermented fruit might be important,” said Dr Kimberley Hockings, also from the University of Exeter.
“We need to find out more about whether they deliberately seek out ethanolic fruits and how they metabolize it, but this behavior could be the early evolutionary stages of ‘feasting’. If so, it suggests the human tradition of feasting may have its origins deep in our evolutionary history.”
Reference:
“Wild chimpanzees share fermented fruits”
by Anna C. Bowland, Elena Bersacola, Marina Ramon, Joana Bessa, Amanda D. Melin, Matthew A. Carrigan, Xavier A. Harrison and Kimberley J. Hockings, 21 April 2025, Current Biology.
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.02.067
Funding: Primate Society of Great Britain
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you.
They should all have a drivers license.
Hold muh breadfruit and watch this!
Elephants enjoy fermented fruit, too. Probably numerous other species have discovered its charms.
Why? Do they have a designated driver? They can individually stagger back to their own sleeping branch, or just fall asleep at the base of the tree.
Just like a bunch of redneck cowboys.
Clicking this thread I felt like I was gonna get Rick Rolled
Whatever that is.......................😏
South side of Chicago..................
Did they turn on an NBA game? Were they short on weed?
Just blew coffee onto my shirt!
“”In humans, alcohol consumption is believed to date back deep into evolutionary history and is often associated with social bonding.””
“”We also know that sharing alcohol, including through traditions such as feasting, helps to form and strengthen social bonds.””
Alcohol has played an incredible role in the growth of Western man and it differs greatly from the role that Cannabis and hashish has played in the societies that were drawn into Cannabis instead of alcohol, the difference in the cultures are night and day.
I saw a National Geographic documentary years ago that showed animals in the Serengeti getting drunk on fermented fruit and it was set to classical music! It was hilarious and so was not the first time monkeys got drunk on fruit.
Now now, y’all laughing, but this is so sad! Where will these poor drunken chimps go now? Someone should start a charity to build them a Waffle House.
I came here for the comments.
This will no doubt in time lead to a PhD thesis along the lines of: “The Deep Evolutionary Roots of the Fraternity Kegger.”
What would Cheeta do? I ask myself that all the time. Cheeta always seemed to be laughing when the pygmies got their just rewards, lol.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheeta
Rofl! Good one! I still say they need a Waffle House. It’s where all the drunken frat boys ended up at 4am back when I was in college.
Waffle House was so much fun. Smothered, hehe.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.