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Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative

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Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative
FormationSeptember 28, 2004; 20 years ago (2004-09-28)
TypeSanctuary
Legal status501(c)(3)
Purposeunderstanding the origins and future of culture, language, tools and intelligence
HeadquartersUSA
Location
  • Des Moines
Websitehttp://apeinitiative.org/

Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative is a great ape sanctuary and scientific research facility in Des Moines, Iowa. The facility was announced in 2002 and received its first ape residents in 2004, conceived of as the Great Ape Trust,[1] or Iowa Primate Learning Sanctuary,[2] launched in part by the primatologist Sue Savage-Rumbaugh and Des Moines businessman Ted Townsend.[3][4] Renamed in 2013, it is currently home to a colony of seven bonobos involved in non-invasive interdisciplinary studies of their cognitive and communicative capabilities. Ape Initiative is now supported by Kennesaw State University.[5]

Research

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Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative is situated on 230 acres and houses a family of seven bonobos: Kanzi, Elikya, Maisha, Nyota, Teco, Clara, and Mali. Three of the bonobos learned important elements of human culture during their crucial first year of life. As a youngster, Kanzi acquired language competency by simply watching humans attempt to teach language to Matata, the wild-caught grandmother of the family. Nyota is the first ape reared both by humans and a language-competent ape mother. The youngest, Teco, provides a unique look into the epigenetic effects of language acquisition. All three of these bonobos communicate with humans using a collection of over 400 "lexigram" symbols printed on paper or appearing on computer touch screens.

It has been repeatedly claimed that these bonobos can think, make plans and understand simple spoken English. Kanzi has been filmed making music, building a fire, and crafting simple stone tools. More than 400 scientific papers and many books document the capabilities of the bonobos, and films portraying their achievements have been broadcast worldwide. Television coverage includes features with Oprah, Anderson Cooper, 60 Minutes (in Australia), BBC, Paul McCartney and Peter Gabriel.

References

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  1. ^ Hu, Jane C. (2014-08-20). "What Do Talking Apes Really Tell Us?". Slate.com. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
  2. ^ "Our History". Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative. Accessed September 2024.
  3. ^ Stern, Lindsay (July 2020). "What Can Bonobos Teach Us About the Nature of Language?" Smithsonian Magazine: Science.
  4. ^ Beeman, Perry. 'Ape scientist placed on leave after mental health is questioned' Archived 2014-02-06 at archive.today, Des Moines Register, September 12, 2012
  5. ^ "Our History". Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative. Accessed September 2024.
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