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#Research #Biology
New Scientist
New Scientist
1mth ago 51 views

Wild chimpanzees may get mildly intoxicated from alcoholic fruit

Research shows wild chimpanzees consume alcohol equivalent to two glasses of wine daily, suggesting evolutionary ties to human alcohol consumption.
Wild chimpanzees may get mildly intoxicated from alcoholic fruit
A What happened
Researchers from UC Berkeley found that wild chimpanzees consume the equivalent of two glasses of wine daily through their diet of fermented fruits. By studying eastern and western chimpanzee populations in Uganda and Ivory Coast, they quantified their alcohol intake, revealing an average consumption of 14 grams of pure ethanol per day. This amount is significant when considering the chimps' body weight compared to humans. The findings support the 'drunken monkey hypothesis,' suggesting that early human ancestors were also exposed to dietary alcohol, potentially influencing the evolution of alcohol consumption behaviors in humans. While the study provides valuable insights into primate diets and evolutionary history, experts caution against directly correlating chimpanzee alcohol consumption with human addiction challenges.

Key insights

  • 1

    Chimpanzee Alcohol Intake

    Study quantifies daily ethanol consumption in wild chimpanzees.

  • 2

    Drunken Monkey Hypothesis

    Suggests evolutionary links between primate and human alcohol consumption.

  • 3

    Evolutionary Implications

    Findings may shed light on human attraction to alcohol.

Takeaways

The study highlights the deep evolutionary roots of alcohol consumption in primates.