Bonobo Kanzi's Groundbreaking Evidence of Imagination

Recent research has revealed that the capacity for imagination and pretend play is not exclusive to humans, as demonstrated by a bonobo named Kanzi. Conducted by researchers Amalia Bastos and Christopher Krupenye at Johns Hopkins University, the study published in the journal *Science* provides the first experimental evidence that an ape can engage in make-believe activities. Kanzi participated in three structured experiments designed to test his ability to track imaginary objects during play.

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In the first experiment, Kanzi was presented with two squirt bottles—one containing juice and the other empty. He correctly identified the juice bottle in all 18 trials. The second experiment involved two transparent cups, where the researchers pretended to pour juice from an empty pitcher into the cups. Kanzi successfully identified the cup that contained the imaginary juice 68% of the time. In a third task, he distinguished between a real grape and an imaginary one, correctly identifying the real grape 14 out of 18 times. These results suggest that Kanzi was capable of distinguishing between real and pretend objects, indicating a level of cognitive sophistication previously unrecognized in non-human primates.

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Kanzi, who died in March 2025, was particularly suited for this study due to his extensive language training, which included understanding over 300 symbols. His participation in various cognitive research projects, including a 2025 study demonstrating that bonobos can point out hidden objects, further established him as a valuable subject for understanding ape cognition. However, researchers caution that since Kanzi was the only bonobo tested, the findings may not be generalizable to other apes.

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The implications of this research extend beyond Kanzi. The findings challenge long-held beliefs about the uniqueness of human imagination and suggest that such cognitive abilities may have originated from a shared ancestor millions of years ago. Christopher Krupenye noted, “This kind of finding really shows us that there’s much more richness to these animals’ minds than people give them credit for.”

While the study provides compelling evidence, experts like Nicholas E. Newton-Fisher emphasize the need for caution in generalizing these results to other ape species. He suggests that while we should approach the findings with skepticism, it is essential to recognize the cognitive capabilities of apes as distinct from those of humans. Further research is necessary to explore the extent of imaginative play across different ape species and to understand how these cognitive abilities manifest in their unique contexts.

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• “This is one of those things that we assume is distinct about our species,” — Christopher Krupenye, Cognitive Scientist

• “It seems suitable, therefore, that he has also provided experimental evidence of imagination.” — Nicholas E. Newton-Fisher, Evolutionary Anthropologist

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• “As the authors of this research note, generalising from Kanzi to other bonobos, and to other ape species, will require further investigation,” — Nicholas E. Newton-Fisher, Evolutionary Anthropologist

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This groundbreaking study not only enhances our understanding of ape cognition but also invites a reevaluation of the cognitive abilities shared between humans and their closest relatives.