By Aylin Woodward

Scientists once thought only humans could use their imagination, but a new study suggests apes can, too.

During a series of experiments, scientists discovered a bonobo called Kanzi could engage in pretend tea parties. He could understand the difference between real and imaginary juice and identify the location of imaginary food and drink when sitting across a table from a person, they said.

"We think of imagination as being this really rich and fundamentally human phenomenon," said Christopher Krupenye, a cognitive scientist at Johns Hopkins University and co-author of a study published Thursday in the journal Science. "Yet this study really shows our very closest relatives also have this capacity and can share in a sort of pretend world with a human."

The experiments involved empty pitchers, cups, bowls and jars. Kanzi could follow pretend juice as it was poured from a pitcher into one of two cups, then point to the cup containing the imaginary liquid, even if it had been moved. He also was able to track the location of imaginary grapes after the experimenter pretended to take one from an empty container and place it into a jar.

In another experiment, researchers placed a cup of real juice next to a cup into which they pretended to pour juice. When asked his preference, Kanzi overwhelmingly selected the real beverage.

The bonobo, who lived during the study at the Ape Initiative, a research and conservation nonprofit, was able to use a board of symbols to communicate with humans.

The study involved only a single ape, who had already shown exceptional abilities in previous research, noted Alex Piel, a University College London evolutionary anthropologist who wasn't involved in the work.

"It's less compelling when it's this Einstein of the bonobo world," Piel said, adding that Kanzi's abilities might not be indicative of those of the rest of his species. (Kanzi has since died.)

While there have been anecdotal reports of wild and captive apes being able to pretend, Krupenye said he thinks this was the first experimental study of pretend behavior in nonhumans.

Playing pretend might be beneficial to a species in a few ways, the study authors say.

Children, for instance, use their imagination to interact with make-believe objects or friends, which lets them practice real-world social scenarios, according to Amalia Bastos, a comparative psychologist at the University of St Andrews in Scotland and study co-author.

"The more you understand what other individuals might be capable of perceiving or what they might believe, the better job you're going to do interacting with these individuals," she said.

Write to Aylin Woodward at aylin.woodward@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 05, 2026 14:00 ET (19:00 GMT)

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