{"id":232332,"date":"2026-01-07T13:21:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T13:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/232332\/"},"modified":"2026-01-07T13:21:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T13:21:08","slug":"scientists-stunned-chimpanzees-start-their-own-trend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/232332\/","title":{"rendered":"Scientists stunned: chimpanzees start their own trend!"},"content":{"rendered":"

While Paris buzzes with the glamour of Haute Couture Fashion Week, a very different kind of runway moment is unfolding in the wild. The trendsetters in question? Not models \u2014 but chimpanzees \u2014 sporting blades of grass placed with surprising precision.<\/p>\n

The \u201cfashion effect\u201d describes how individuals mimic others\u2019 behavior, even when it serves no practical purpose. Think of tying a scarf around your dog\u2019s neck \u2014 charming, but not exactly necessary. Humans are wired for imitation, a fact that keeps influencers in business across social media.<\/p>\n

But this time, the phenomenon wasn\u2019t found in humans at all. Researchers from Utrecht University in the Netherlands and Durham University in the U.K. have documented it among chimpanzees.<\/p>\n

Fun fact: a similar case of \u201cwild fashion\u201d has been observed in orcas, which began balancing dead salmon on their heads.<\/p>\n

The first chimpanzee<\/a> trend appeared in the 2010s at Zambia\u2019s Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage. It started with a female named Julie, who tucked a blade of grass into her ear. Other chimps quickly copied her \u2014 and the habit persisted, even after Julie\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

Subjects were 94 chimpanzees at the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust, a sanctuary in the north-western part of Zambia. Grass-in-ear behaviour copied by group members: https:\/\/t.co\/dR84qctFgH<\/a> #chimpanzees<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Hz0Spj4Wmq<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Patricia Teixidor (@pateixidor) April 2, 2021<\/a> <\/p>\n

A Trend That Spreads to a New Group<\/p>\n

Now, researchers writing in Behaviour report that another group of chimpanzees at the same sanctuary \u2014 with no contact with the first \u2014 has independently picked up the habit of putting grass in their ears.<\/p>\n

This time, led by a male named Juma, the group took things a step further: they began letting grass hang from their backsides. There was no obvious reason \u2014 not even a scratch to relieve. \u201cI\u2019m not concerned with why they do it,\u201d said Edwin van Leeuwen of Utrecht University. \u201cWhat fascinates me is how they copy one another.\u201d<\/p>\n

A deeper look revealed a funny twist. Both chimpanzee groups shared the same human caretakers \u2014 and those caretakers occasionally stick blades of grass or matchsticks in their ears while cleaning them, right in front of their curious observers.<\/p>\n

Think humans are the only ones who copy strange trends just to fit in? Think again!\ud83e\udd8d A new study involving @DurhamPsych<\/a> reveals how a fascinating fad swept through a group of chimps @Chimfunshi<\/a>.
Read more: \ud83d\udc49 https:\/\/t.co\/dqhn1lIkWZ<\/a>#DUresearch<\/a> #DUinspire<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/5soNEEZie0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Durham University (@durham_uni) July 8, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n

A Hint of Cultural Evolution?<\/p>\n

So far, this quirky behavior has only been observed in captivity. In the wild, chimps are far too busy hunting for food or watching for predators to dabble in style experiments. But wild apes are excellent at copying behaviors that help them survive \u2014 a sign of intelligence and adaptability.<\/p>\n

Imitating others might also serve a social purpose \u2014 a way to show connection or affection, reinforcing bonds within a group, much like humans do.<\/p>\n

These findings from the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage could deepen the discussion on animal culture<\/a> and evolution. Some scientists still argue that humans are the only species capable of cultural imitation, even when the behavior is meaningless.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut our research shows chimpanzees can also copy small, seemingly pointless actions,\u201d said Jake Brooker of Durham University. \u201cThat\u2019s why we thought sharing these observations was so important.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"mayer-nathalie\"<\/p>\n

Nathalie Mayer<\/p>\n

Journalist<\/p>\n

Born in Lorraine on a freezing winter night, storytelling has always inspired me, first through my grandmother’s tales and later Stephen King’s imagination. A physicist turned science communicator, I’ve collaborated with institutions like CEA, Total, Engie, and Futura. Today, I focus on unraveling Earth’s complex environmental and energy challenges, blending science with storytelling to illuminate solutions.<\/p>\n

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