Orangutans learn to trade favours

Orangutans learn to trade favours

news.bbc.co.uk

Orangutans can help each other get food by trading tokens, scientists have discovered - but only if the help goes in both directions.

Researchers from the University of St Andrews found orangutans could learn the value of tokens and trade them, helping each other win bananas.

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I feel this is an interesting discovery that will eventually help us identify how human society emerged and what is the basis of our primitive barter system.

Orangutans are our closest relatives and it is heartening to know that they understand the meaning of barter.

It goes to show that they can calculate and know what reciprocation is. So somewhere down the evolutionary jouney we left Orangutans far back and surged far ahead. And thats why money is such a headache for mankind now!

news.bbc.co.uk
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[edit on 25-12-2008 by sunny_2008ny]