Apes Show Ability to Imagine During 'Tea Party' Experiments, Scientists Excited

New research suggests apes share the human capacity for pretending and imagination.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Scientists at Johns Hopkins University have conducted a series of 'tea party' experiments that suggest apes, like humans, have the ability to imagine and pretend. The findings, published in the journal Science, challenge long-held assumptions about the cognitive abilities of animals and indicate that the capacity for imagination may date back millions of years to our common evolutionary ancestors.

Why it matters

This research is considered 'game-changing' as it suggests that the mental lives of apes go beyond just reacting to the 'here and now.' The ability to imagine and pretend has long been seen as a uniquely human trait, so these findings invite us to reconsider what makes humans special and what other types of mental capacities may exist among other creatures.

The details

In the experiments, a 43-year-old bonobo named Kanzi was able to consistently and accurately track the location of pretend objects, like cups of imaginary juice and bowls of pretend grapes, across multiple trials. This indicates Kanzi could generate an idea of the pretend objects in his mind while also knowing they were not real. The researchers say this is the first study to demonstrate the capacity for pretending is not unique to humans.

  • The study was published this week in the journal Science.

The players

Johns Hopkins University

A research university located in Baltimore, Maryland where the experiments were conducted.

Kanzi

A 43-year-old bonobo who was the subject of the tea party experiments and demonstrated the ability to imagine and track pretend objects.

Dr. Christopher Krupenye

A study co-author and researcher who said the findings are 'really transformative' in reconsidering what mental capacities exist in other animals.

Amalia Bastos

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

Ape Initiative

The world's only research center and sanctuary dedicated exclusively to the study and conservation of bonobos, which is where Kanzi lives.

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What they’re saying

“It really is game-changing that their mental lives go beyond the here and now.”

— Dr. Christopher Krupenye, Study Co-Author

“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.”

— Dr. Christopher Krupenye, Study Co-Author

“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.”

— Amalia Bastos, Study Co-Author

“Kanzi is able to generate an idea of this pretend object and, at the same time, know it's not real.”

— Amalia Bastos, Study Co-Author

What’s next

The researchers now want to test whether other apes and animals can engage in pretend play or track pretend objects. They also hope to explore other facets of imagination in apes, perhaps their ability to think about the future or to think about what's going on in the minds of others.

The takeaway

This research challenges the long-held assumption that the capacity for imagination and pretending is unique to humans. It suggests apes may have richer mental lives than previously thought, inviting us to reconsider our views on animal cognition and to ensure the continued preservation of these remarkable creatures.