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Dissecting the Non-human Primate Brain in Stereotaxic Space

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Published on: July 16, 2009

Wild chimpanzees share fermented fruits.

Anna C Bowland¹, Elena Bersacola¹, Marina Ramon¹

¹Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK.

Current Biology : CB

|April 22, 2025

Summary

Wild chimpanzees were observed eating and sharing fermented African breadfruit containing alcohol. This discovery suggests that the consumption of ethanol-containing foods may have ancient origins in hominoid societies.

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Area of Science:

Primate Ecology
Nutritional Anthropology
Biochemistry

Background:

Fermented foods are ubiquitous in human diets, linked to nutrition and social bonding.
An ancient molecular adaptation in alcohol dehydrogenase suggests early hominoid consumption of fermented fruits.
Little is known about ethanol consumption in nonhuman great ape diets.

Purpose of the Study:

To document the first instance of wild chimpanzees consuming and sharing naturally fermented foods containing ethanol.
To investigate the role of ethanol-containing food in the diet of nonhuman great apes.

Main Methods:

Observation of wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in Cantanhez National Park, Guinea-Bissau.
Identification and confirmation of ethanol in naturally fermented African breadfruit (Treculia africana).
Documentation of food ingestion and sharing behaviors.

Main Results:

Repeated ingestion and sharing of fermented African breadfruit with confirmed ethanol content by wild chimpanzees.
This behavior was observed in multiple individuals within the study group.

Conclusions:

This study provides the first evidence of wild chimpanzees consuming ethanol-containing fermented foods.
The findings suggest that the dietary incorporation and sharing of ethanol-rich foods may be widespread and ancient in hominoid societies.