Bonobos share food with strangers, says study

The idea that sharing (especially sharing with strangers) is an exclusively human trait has been challenged by a study that shows we may not be the only species with a streak of generosity. Sharing more than 98 percent of DNA with humans, bonobos are our closest relatives. And it looks like we have something else in common: like humans, bonobos enjoy some friendly interaction over a good meal. According to a study by Duke University's Jingzhi Tan and Brian Hare, bonobos will share food with strangers. In fact, bonobos "will even forego their own meals for a stranger” if "the recipient offers them social interaction," EurekAlert reported. Even when "no desirable social interaction" is possible, the apes remain generous, helping strangers obtain out-of-reach food. But they draw the line at offering their own food if there is no social interaction in exchange. "These results indicate that other-regarding preferences toward strangers are not uniquely human," the study abstract asserts.   "Instead, we propose that prosociality toward strangers initially evolves due to selection for social tolerance, allowing the expansion of individual social networks." Lead author Tan recommended the bonobos for future studies on previously-assumed "uniquely human” behaviors. — Shaira Panela/BM, GMA News