The Secret of the Apes

Our lives are interconnected with our peculiar culture. By living in it, we actually redesign our culture from scratch. However, we are not the only ones with a characteristic culture. Hundreds of years ago in the African tropics, hidden deep in the forests of Uganda, millions of apes existed. Although their numbers have significantly dropped over time, their importance has not. This area of Africa was the destination of a film crew accompanying scientists who were to observe two related chimpanzee populations. Both troops of chimpanzees have developed distinct methods of foraging, a variety of techniques for hunting and the use of a range of tools. Initially the scientists believed that the traditions of the chimpanzees had evolved differently due to the distance between the two troops, the varied living conditions and perhaps their particular genetic predispositions. However, for the very first time scientists monitored the cultural differences between chimpanzee troops which live in close proximity and whose members move from one troop to another. Their skills reflect strongly entrenched cultural knowledge, passed down from mothers to their young. The only difference is that, unlike human education, the apes’ education is far less consistent. (Academia Film Olomouc)