Kanzi

Kanzi ( treasure hidden in Swahili) is a male bonobo appearing very gifted for the language and which was the subject of research to the Georgia State University by Dr. Sue Savage-Rumbaugh.

Biography

Born the October 28th 1980 with the Zoo from San Diego, baby of a female bonobo named Lorel, Kanzi was quickly adopted by another named dominant female Matata which was going to be the object of research to the Georgia State University . Still baby, Kanzi followed Matata at the time of the various exercises which it was to make. These exercises in particular consisted in using symbols on a keyboard to communicate. It had the capacity to memorize only six symbols. Appearing a parasitic element with the concentration of Matata, the baby bonobo was to be constantly inattentive by the essence of the team.

After the weaning of Kanzi, Matata was transferred to be coupled and Kanzi was only found with the team. It proved that it had learned without any difficulty ten symbols keyboard and used them to announce its intentions. For example, after having pressed on the key " pomme" , it was going to seek this same food.

Its spontaneous way to learn the symbols differed from the others bonobos (in particular Matata), for which the work of memorizing of the symbols was based on the constant repetition of the exercises. Moreover, it had included/understood some English words pronounced by the team, such as light (light), with the sound of which it could actuate the switch. He had learned the English equivalent from the majority of the symbols. He had also the capacity to arrange two symbols such as “opening orange”.

Through teaching, the number of symbols known by Kanzi in November 2006 is of 348 and it includes/understands more: 3000 spoken words (source: Smithsonian Magazine , by Wikipedia/EN)

See too

External bonds

Symbols used by Kanzi
the Page of Kanzi

Works

Kanzi, the ape At the brink off the Human Mind. of Known Savage-Rumbaugh & Roger Lewin. ISBN 0-471-58591-2

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