Overview

The close relationship between humans and other primates continues to spark intense interest in nonhuman primate behavior. Because of the common evolutionary roots between humans and other primates, many scientists believe that the behaviors of these animals can provide glimpses of our collective past, as well as correlations to the current actions of individuals and to human society as a whole. The understanding of nonhuman primate behavior has grown enormously since the 1960s when famous paleontologist Louis S. B. Leakey (1903-1972) selected several women to study different primate species in the wild. That work led to such findings as tool use in chimpanzees, never-before-seen social behavior in orangutans, and the peaceful nature of gorillas.

Background

The study of nonhuman primates in the wild began in earnest in 1960 when British paleontologist Louis S.B. Leakey began an experiment...