Chimps Know What Fire Does

Scientists were puzzled to observe a male chimp in Senegal performing a “fire dance” in close proximity to a raging wildfire in the region. The primates are known for engaging in “rain dances” from time to time, as severe thunderstorms take place, but this is the first time a similar habit has been observed around fire. The dance was performed by a dominant male, while the other members of the gang were sitting a safe distance away, NewScientist reports.

Researchers at the scene described that the chimp faced the flames in a “really exaggerated slow-motion display,” before finally turning to the other primates and communicating with them through barking vocalizations. According to Iowa State University anthropologist Jill Pruetz, who was involved in the study, this was the first time that the animal had produced such noises in more than 2,000 hours of non-stop observations directed at the chimp group. All of the other members of the band were taking shelter in a nearby baobab tree all along, the researcher also added.

Unlike other animals, some even larger than they are, chimpanzees tend to not get scared by fire. They approach it in the same way humans do, in the sense that they retreat just enough to put themselves out of immediate danger, while also remaining as close to the flames as possible. This was made very obvious during the Senegal incident. As the fire advanced, the chimps retreated, but in small increments. This seems to imply that they know, or at least guess, what fire is capable of, and are curious about it. However, this curiosity is not stronger than their survival instinct. For comparison, other animals flee when faced with raging flames.

Together with East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania expert and study co-author Thomas LaDuke, Pruetz argues that the primates are cognizant enough to predict the motion of the flames, which would explain why they are able to stay clear of their paths without panicking. “If chimps with their small brain size can conceptually deal with fire, then maybe we should rethink some of the earliest evidence for fire usage,” Pruetz explains. Details of the investigation appears in the latest issue of the respected American Journal of Physical Anthropology.