Every day, chimpanzees are found to consume alcohol, as per a recent study
In a groundbreaking study conducted in the African forests of Uganda's Budongo Forest, researchers have found that wild chimpanzees consume approximately half a liter of beer's worth of alcohol daily. The study, led by Aleksey Maro, emphasizes that the amount of alcohol consumed by chimpanzees is significant but diluted, primarily associated with fruits. The alcohol is derived from eating ripe and fermented fruits. When given a choice, primates, including chimpanzees, may choose nectars with more alcohol. Some primates, including chimpanzees, have been observed to prefer fermented fruits with higher alcohol content. The ethanol content in the fruits eaten by chimpanzees was measured in the study. The findings contribute to the strengthening of the 'drunken monkey' theory, initially proposed more than a decade ago by American biologist Robert Dudley, who is also a co-author of the study. The theory proposes that the human taste for alcohol was inherited from primates. It is unclear whether chimpanzees actively seek alcoholic fruits or simply eat them when they find them. The study does not provide definitive answers about the active seeking of alcoholic fruits by chimpanzees. The research raises questions about the long-term biological and behavioral effects of chronic low-level ethanol exposure on non-human primates. Researchers aim to evaluate the risks and potential benefits of alcohol consumption in chimpanzees. The study supports the theory that people may have inherited from primates their taste for alcohol and the ability to metabolize it. Researchers plan to continue studying chimpanzees' alcohol consumption to learn more about the origins of human alcohol consumption. Maro stated that the amount of alcohol consumed by chimpanzees is not insignificant but is very diluted and more associated with fruits. Dudley defended the 'drunken monkey' theory in the study, stating that the findings are in line with his earlier proposals. The study was published on Wednesday and has sparked a renewed interest in the evolutionary links between primates and human alcohol consumption. The research on chimpanzees' alcohol consumption is set to continue, shedding light on this fascinating aspect of primate behaviour and human evolution.
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