Turns Out These GREAT APES Use SOCIAL ETIQUETTE When Greeting Each Other!
Researchers have discovered that both Chimpanzees and Bonobos have social habits that closely mirror the way humans greet each other!
The research team studied over 2,000 interactions between chimpanzees as well as bonobos, with about 78% of the chimpanzees and 90% of the bonobos engaging in ‘hellos’ and ‘goodbyes’.
They utilise eye contact and physical touch to greet and depart from one another. Apes with closer bonds tended to shorten their greetings, suggesting a level of increased intimacy or lack of necessity in performing these rituals to friends and family they know well.