Chimpanzees at the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage in Zambia have been observed engaging in a peculiar behavior of inserting blades of grass and sticks into their ears and anuses. This trend, first seen 15 years ago when a female chimp named Julie started it, has resurfaced with a new group of chimps at the refuge. Researchers believe the behavior may have been learned from human caretakers who clean their ears with similar objects. The study, published in the journal Behaviour, highlights how social-cultural trends spread and evolve among primates, akin to human cultural practices. This behavior, while seemingly uncomfortable at first, appears to have become a fashion statement among the chimps, much like humans wearing earrings. (Cbc)
