Apes Demonstrate Human-Like Imagination Ability

Johns Hopkins researchers find bonobos can engage in pretend play, challenging long-held assumptions about animal cognition.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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In a series of experiments, researchers at Johns Hopkins University have demonstrated for the first time that apes, specifically a bonobo named Kanzi, can use their imagination and engage in pretend play - an ability long thought to be uniquely human. The findings suggest that the capacity for imagination may date back millions of years to our common evolutionary ancestors.

Why it matters

The discovery that apes possess the ability to imagine and engage in pretend play challenges the long-held assumption that this capacity is exclusive to humans. It suggests that the mental lives of animals may be richer and more complex than previously believed, inviting us to reconsider what makes humans 'special' and the extent of cognitive abilities in other species.

The details

In a series of experiments similar to a child's tea party, researchers tested a 43-year-old bonobo named Kanzi. In one task, an experimenter pretended to pour juice into cups and then pretended to empty one of the cups. Kanzi was able to correctly identify which cup still contained the pretend juice. In another experiment, Kanzi could distinguish between a real cup of juice and a pretend one. A third test involved pretend grapes, with Kanzi again successfully tracking the location of the imaginary object.

  • The experiments were conducted in 2026 at the Ape Initiative in Baltimore, Maryland.

The players

Christopher Krupenye

A Johns Hopkins assistant professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences who studies animal cognition.

Amalia Bastos

A former Johns Hopkins postdoctoral fellow who is now a lecturer at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

Kanzi

A 43-year-old bonobo living at the Ape Initiative in Baltimore who was the subject of the pretend play experiments.

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What they’re saying

“It really is game-changing that their mental lives go beyond the here and now. Imagination has long been seen as a critical element of what it is to be human but the idea that it may not be exclusive to our species is really transformative.”

— Christopher Krupenye, Johns Hopkins assistant professor (Mirage News)

“It's extremely striking and very exciting that the data seem to suggest that apes, in their minds, can conceive of things that are not there. Kanzi is able to generate an idea of this pretend object and at the same time know it's not real.”

— Amalia Bastos, former Johns Hopkins postdoctoral fellow (Mirage News)

What’s next

The researchers plan to continue studying pretend play and other facets of imagination in apes, as well as exploring whether these abilities extend to other animal species.

The takeaway

This study challenges the long-held assumption that the capacity for imagination and pretend play is unique to humans, suggesting that the cognitive abilities of apes and other animals may be more complex and human-like than previously believed. It invites us to reconsider our understanding of what makes humans 'special' and to approach the study of animal minds with greater openness and curiosity.