Write a fun caption about this baby ape who loves playing pranks

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26 Feb, 2024

Scientists have analysed videos to show that great apes enjoy playful teasing in a similar way to human children

Researchers say baby chimpanzees like slapping a dozing adult or just generally getting in the way. Photo: AFP

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New research shows that great apes act playfully just like human children do.

The scientists watched 75 hours of videos of chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans. One young ape would offer another an object but withdraw it at the last second. Some would slap each other before running away. Others just liked to poke.

Researchers said these joking habits were in the common ancestor of humans and primates at least 13 million years ago.

Agence France-Presse

What kind of prank is the baby chimpanzee playing?

Send us a funny caption by filling out the form below or emailing [email protected] with your full name, age and school name.

The deadline is at 12pm on February 28. We’ll publish the best ones next week.

Last week’s top captions

Employees inspect an installation that forms part of an exhibition exploring the idea of cuteness in modern culture. Photo: Reuters

Sarah Ma (aged 7), HKUGA Primary School: We can see both a happy and unhappy expression on Hello Kitty’s face.
Ashley Ngou Chung-ling (aged 9), Santa Rosa de Lima English Secondary School: Light is cute, and dark is too cute.

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