Ai, a female chimpanzee recognized for her participation in cognitive research, died on January 9 at the age of 49. Her death, attributed to old age and organ failure, occurred at Kyoto University's Center for the Evolutionary Origins of Human Behavior in Japan, where she was surrounded by staff. Ai, born in West Africa, was a central figure in studies exploring the "chimpanzee mind" and demonstrated various cognitive abilities throughout her life.
Early Life and Research Program
Ai was born in West Africa and arrived at the Primate Research Institute of Kyoto University in Japan in 1977, when she was approximately one year old. Her name, Ai, means "love" in Japanese. She became the namesake of the "Ai Project," a dedicated research program focused on understanding chimpanzee cognition.
Cognitive Research Contributions
Over decades, Ai participated in numerous studies that highlighted her cognitive capabilities:
- At five years old, she was reportedly the first chimpanzee to successfully label numbers.
- By six and a half, she learned the alphabet and could discriminate between all 26 uppercase letters.
- At seven and a half, Ai learned lexigrams for various items, including apple, banana, carrot, and cabbage.
- She eventually identified over 100 Japanese Kanji characters and 11 different colors.
- In one study, Ai virtually drew an apple on a computer screen by selecting a rectangle, a square, and a dot when shown an apple.
Beyond formal tests, Ai was also noted for her engagement in drawing and painting activities. One of her creations was featured on a scarf for primatologist Dame Jane Goodall.
Notable Incident
In 1989, Ai reportedly escaped her cage by using a key. She subsequently opened the cages of another research chimpanzee named Akira and an orangutan named Doudou. The escape was brief, and Ai was later observed on campus with the key in her mouth. She reportedly displayed a signal of deference to students before being returned to the laboratory.
Legacy
Ai leaves behind a 25-year-old son named Ayumu, who is also reported to be highly intelligent. Scientists at Kyoto University continue to study Ayumu as part of ongoing research into chimpanzee cognition.