Reasons to be Impossible

This isn't election related, so I'll blog it here - Bonobo's share! - our nearest cousins (5 million years ago, ISTR, we shared a common ancestor) have a capacity for sharing: "[researchers]gave a hungry bonobo access to a room with some food in it. This room was adjacent to another two rooms, which the creature could easily see into. One of these rooms was empty while the other contained another bonobo. The hungry primate could then choose to eat the food alone or unlock the door by removing a wooden peg and share his fare with the other bonobo."

A dog would not do that, simple and flat. Hardwired to share? Inherently social animals? Playing a long game to gift giving? But a fascinating glimpse into what we are.

Labels: 316.6, Anthropology, Co-operation, Evolution, Primatology