We get a lot of pleasure from sharing, us humans, especially when it comes to eating. From Sunday roasts to neighbourly barbecues, shared spoils and a bit of company just seem to make things taste better.
And now, it seems, we’re not alone in the animal kingdom in having a fondness for a family picnic. A recent study has shown that the bonobo, a cousin of the chimpanzee, is also partial to a collective chow down. Although more likely to be associated with an anarchic tea party than a sophisticated soiree, the bonobo prefers to share its food voluntarily than to dine alone — behaviour previously thought to have been unique to our species.
In tests, bonobos armed with pieces of fruit chose to release