Study Finds Nonhuman Primates Can Imagine Objects

A groundbreaking new study published in the journal Science offers compelling evidence that a nonhuman primate can mentally represent objects that are not physically present.

The article, titled “Evidence for representation of pretend objects by Kanzi, a language-trained bonobo,” was authored by Amalia P. M. Bastos and Christopher Krupenye and recently highlighted in the Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law & Policy Animal Law Digest.

At the center of the research is Kanzi, a lexigram-trained bonobo who has long been recognized for his language comprehension abilities. This new study adds something remarkable to our understanding of his cognition: evidence that he can engage in pretense.

What Did the Study Show?

Across three experiments, researchers tested whether Kanzi could identify the location of pretend objects, such as “juice” that was poured between empty containers when prompted verbally.

In carefully structured interactions, researchers:

• Used verbal cues referring to objects that were not actually present

• Acted out scaffolded pretend scenarios

• Asked Kanzi to indicate where the imaginary object was located

Kanzi successfully identified the correct location of the “pretend” object across multiple trials.

This suggests that he was not merely reacting to physical cues, but was instead forming a mental representation of something that did not exist in the immediate environment.

Implications for Animal Law and Policy

For those of us working in animal advocacy and policy, findings like this matter.

Legal systems often rely, implicitly or explicitly, on assumptions about cognitive differences between humans and other animals. Demonstrating that a bonobo can mentally represent imaginary objects challenges simplistic narratives about animal intelligence and sentience.

As scientific research continues to illuminate the mental lives of nonhuman animals, it raises important questions:

• How should cognitive sophistication factor into legal protections?

• Do existing welfare frameworks adequately reflect what we now know about animal minds?

• Should evidence of symbolic thought influence how animals are treated in captivity, research, or entertainment settings?

The work highlighted by the Brooks Institute underscores a broader trend in animal law: science and policy are increasingly intertwined.

Expanding Our Understanding

Kanzi’s performance does not simply showcase an extraordinary individual, it invites a broader reevaluation of the cognitive capacities of nonhuman primates.

As research progresses, we are reminded that imagination, symbolic thought, and representational understanding may not be uniquely human traits. Instead, they may exist along a continuum, one that includes other species with whom we share evolutionary history.

For advocates, scholars, and policymakers alike, this study offers both scientific insight and ethical reflection. The more we understand about animal cognition, the harder it becomes to ignore the implications for how we structure laws, protections, and societal norms.

What You Can Do

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