A new study shows that chimpanzees eat alcohol fruits

Studies have shown that the fruits that chimpanzees consume in their natural habitats in Africa contain ethanol. The research team of the University of California has presented details of these findings in a study published on September 9.

It was surprisingly clear that chimpanzees could easily consume more than two standard alcoholic beverages throughout the day. The results show that alcohol has also had a normal part of the diet of these animals and possibly in our human ancestors’ diet.

“In all the habitats under study, males and chimpanzees receive an average of about 5 grams of pure ethanol daily through their diet, equivalent to a standard American drink,” said Alexei Marrow, a graduate student at the University of California. “When we adjust this level to the body’s mass, as the weighing chimpanzees is approximately 5 kg and the weight of an ordinary human being is about 5 kg, the amount of chimpanzees receives approximately two drinks a day.”

Daily dose of ethanol

The researchers examined the nutritional behavior of chimpanzees in the Nagoggo area in Uganda and Tai on the Ivory Coast. To determine the amount of alcohol in the fruits, samples of fresh and without damage were collected from these areas. Methods including a system similar to respiratory alcohol, a portable gas chromatography, and chemical tests were used to evaluate fruit alcohol.

Interestingly, it became clear that the chimpanzees’ favorite fruits contain an average of 4.9 % alcohol in weight. The most common fruits consumed in both study areas were a type of fig, called FICUS Musco and an plum -like fruit called Parinari Excelsa, which had the highest amount of alcohol among the specimens. Considering this and estimated that chimpanzees consume about 1.5 kg of fruit daily, biologists were able to calculate the average alcohol they receive.

“Chimpanzees consume between 2 % and 5 % of their body weight daily, so even low concentrations can achieve a significant and significant alcohol level,” he said.

“If the chimpanzees accidentally select the ripe fruits, like Alexei did, this average rate of consumption will be, whether they are preferred for ethanol,” he said. But if they tend to ripe or richer fruits in sugar, this is actually a conservative minimum of the actual amount of ethanol receiving. “

Chimpanzees do not even have any signs if these fruits are eaten during the day. In fact, they should eat enough fruit to feel euphoric and their stomach is over -filled. This kind of constant exposure to low concentration alcohol reinforces a theory that says that human desire for alcohol may have root in our first ancestral diet. “Chimpanzees consume almost the same amount of alcohol as we receive fatty foods if you eat constantly,” said Maro. “The human tendency to alcohol is probably from the same heritage of our ancestors with chimpanzees.”

Why are they absorbed?

Recent observations show that yarns and other fruit animals actively consume fermented fruits and neutrals in nature. For example, a study in Year 2 showed that the Loris and IIs in captivity always choose martyrs that have the highest amount of alcohol.

The presence of alcohol metabolites in the body of different species of birds also emphasizes that eating ethanol is a common diet of many animals. One theory is that animals are absorbed into ethanol, because their smell helps them find sugar -rich foods that provide more energy. Some experts also believe that alcohol may make the experience more enjoyable or even play a role in social ties between animals.

This new research provides the background for further research. Maro has recently returned to Nagogo to collect chimpanzee urine samples; A difficult process aims to directly test the presence of alcohol metabolites in the body of these animals. This next step is to determine whether chimpanzees are particularly looking for alcohol -containing fruits.

The findings of this study are published in the journal Science Advances.