Bonobo Kanzi Showed Signs of Imagination, Study Finds

Researchers say the ape could distinguish between real and imaginary objects, hinting at the roots of human creativity.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 3:15pm

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A new study suggests that the bonobo Kanzi, who was raised in a lab and became skilled at communicating with humans, may have had the capacity for imagination and pretend play - abilities long thought to be uniquely human. Researchers adapted experiments used to study imagination in young children and found that Kanzi could distinguish between real and imaginary objects, pointing to the imaginary one when asked. However, some scientists remain unconvinced that Kanzi's abilities truly reflect the kind of abstract imagination seen in humans.

Why it matters

The study's findings challenge the long-held belief that the capacity for imagination and pretend play is unique to humans, suggesting that the roots of these cognitive abilities may be present in our closest ape relatives. If confirmed, it could provide insights into the evolutionary origins of human creativity and innovation.

The details

In the experiments, researchers presented Kanzi with imaginary juice being poured into cups and asked him to choose the cup still containing pretend juice. Kanzi chose the imaginary juice cup 68% of the time, suggesting he could distinguish it from a cup containing real juice, which he chose 80% of the time. A similar experiment with fake grapes also yielded positive results. However, some scientists argue that Kanzi's abilities may have been shaped by his unique upbringing among humans and do not necessarily reflect the cognitive capacities of all bonobos or other apes.

  • The study was published on February 6, 2026 in the journal Science.
  • Kanzi, the bonobo subject of the study, died in 2025 at the age of 44.

The players

Kanzi

A bonobo who was raised in a lab and became skilled at communicating with humans using graphic symbols, combining them to create new meanings. He was the subject of the study on his capacity for imagination and pretend play.

Christopher Krupenye

A study co-author from Johns Hopkins University, who stated that the findings suggest the roots of human imagination may not be unique to our species.

Amalia Bastos

A study co-author from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, who said the results indicate Kanzi could tell the difference between real and imaginary objects.

Michael Tomasello

A comparative psychologist at Duke University who was not involved in the study, but expressed skepticism that Kanzi's abilities truly reflect the kind of abstract imagination seen in humans.

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What they’re saying

“What's really exciting about this work is that it suggests that the roots of this capacity for imagination are not unique to our species.”

— Christopher Krupenye, Study co-author

“To be convinced of that I would need to see Kanzi actually pretend to pour water into a container himself.”

— Michael Tomasello, Comparative psychologist

What’s next

Researchers plan to conduct further studies to better understand the extent and origins of imagination and pretend play in apes, and how these cognitive abilities may have evolved.

The takeaway

This study challenges the long-held belief that the capacity for imagination and pretend play is unique to humans, suggesting that the roots of these abilities may be present in our closest ape relatives. If confirmed, it could provide valuable insights into the evolutionary origins of human creativity and innovation.