Why do chimpanzees often ... throw feces on visitors?

The zoo can be a bad place to experience an interesting trip, until you see a fist of flying straight to you. And the main culprit is chimpanzees, famous animals with hobbies throwing feces on visitors. But what is the reason behind this behavior? Are you lucky to be noticed by them?

Fecal matter is not a regular act of primates, at least not most of them. Karen Strier, a professor of anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said that primates in nature do not usually throw excrement. This behavior is usually seen only in captive populations.

This throwing action is usually only seen in captive populations.

In his research, Strier studied the northern muriqui monkey (Brachyteles hypoxanthus), which can be considered one of the most peaceful primates in the world. These animals live in forests in Brazil and they do not have a social hierarchy. This makes them not aggressive with each other, at least for those monkeys, Strier said.

On the other hand, chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) have decentralized social groups. They will pull branches or throw stones when they are frustrating, uncomfortable or when they want to show dominance.

Ronnie Steinitz, a graduate student in the Integrated Anthropological Science program at the University of California, Santa Barbara, said: "They are capable of performing a lot. Stoning and pulling branches are part of the way children are. This object communicates and communicates well can be an advantage in their society, for example, a male chimpanzee can gain the favor of an alpha male after a war - meaning it has The possibility of being a good communicator and not being alienated from the group Experts think that male chimpanzees reconcile after an aggressive conflict that leads to social cohesion and helps establish a hierarchy " .

Furthermore, a 2012 study published in Royal Society B's Philosophical Transitions suggests that chimpanzees who are better at throwing objects have a more developed brain.

In a zoo environment, especially if there is a group of people staring at them, chimpanzees can get angry or frustrated and they decide to transmit that emotion to them.

"Because they are often stripped of stones, twigs or small objects, they will choose something else within reach, which is feces," Steinitz told Live Science . This explains why you may need to hide when you go to the chimp.

However, there is a chance in the risk: If you do not disturb chimpanzees, you should be proud that these primates assume that you deserve their attention by throwing the stool.

"Think optimistically that they're just trying to communicate with you," Steinitz said.