Recent research highlights the cognitive abilities of bonobos, specifically focusing on Kanzi, a well-known bonobo who has demonstrated the capability to understand the concept of imaginary objects, traditionally thought to be exclusive to human mental capacities. Conducted by Brazilian researcher Amalia Bastos of the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, alongside Christopher Krupeneye of Johns Hopkins University in the USA, the study explores how Kanzi was able to engage in pretending behaviors, mirroring the playful imagination seen in children.

The experiments involved cognitive tests where Kanzi was seen pretending to drink from an empty cup, a behavior that is common among children from a young age. This finding implies that bonobos may not only possess advanced cognitive faculties but can also engage in complex social and imaginative play, thus challenging previous notions about the exclusivity of such traits to humans. The study is slated for publication in the journal Science, underscoring its significance in understanding primate behavior and cognition.

Sadly, Kanzi passed away in 2025 at the age of 44, allegedly due to heart problems. His legacy as a remarkable primate has paved the way for further studies into the cognitive abilities of non-human primates, prompting questions about the evolution of imagination and social interaction in both human and primate species. The implications of this research could deepen our understanding of animal intelligence and its parallels with human behavior.