by Playfuls Staff |
23rd March 2007
Researchers from around the world are in Chicago to discuss the cognitive abilities of chimpanzees.
The [more] international Mind of the Chimpanzee conference at the Lincoln Park Zoo is billed as the first major conference to examine the intelligence of chimpanzees, The Chicago Tribune reported.
While as recently as 20 years ago, scientists considered it taboo to describe animal behavior in the same terms as human thoughts and emotions, however, recent studies suggest that chimps and other primates have the ability to show empathy, the newspaper said.
The studies say traits such as empathy may be the first step in the evolution of morality.
Famed primate researcher Jane Goodall, who will deliver a public lecture at Navy Pier on Sunday, was once ridiculed by other scientists "simply for giving names to the chimps she studied," the newspaper said.
© 2007 UPI
