Communication Makes Hunting Easier for Chimpanzees
Published:03 Aug.2022    Source:University of Zurich

Similar to humans, chimpanzees use communication to coordinate their cooperative behavior -- such as during hunting. When chimpanzees produce a specific vocalization, known as the "hunting bark," they recruit more group members to the hunt and capture their prey more effectively, researchers at the University of Zurich and Tufts University have now shown.

 
Chimpanzees don't only forage for fruit, from time to time they also seek out opportunities to acquire protein-rich meat. To catch their agile monkey prey in the canopy, chimpanzees are better off having companions hunting alongside them. Scientists have found for the first time that communication is key to recruiting group members to join the hunt.