Overview

• Researchers observed 70 instances of wild chimpanzees consuming fermented Okwaba fruits, with alcohol content up to 0.61%, in Guinea-Bissau's Cantanhez National Park.
• Nine instances of fruit-sharing were recorded, marking the first evidence of apes sharing alcoholic food in the wild.
• The study raises questions about whether chimpanzees intentionally seek alcohol or experience intoxication, as effects remain unclear at low alcohol concentrations.
• Findings suggest parallels between chimpanzee behavior and human traditions of alcohol use for social bonding and celebration.
• Previous studies in Guinea documented chimpanzees consuming stronger fermented palm sap, showing possible signs of intoxication, further supporting the evolutionary link.