Growing Up Chimp: Lessons on Life, Leadership, and the Mystery of Puberty

What does it really mean to grow up? For chimpanzees, our closest living relatives, the journey from infancy to adulthood is as complex, awkward, and revealing as our own. In the latest episode of Talking Apes, primatologist Dr. Kris Sabbi takes us deep into the lives of juvenile chimps, exploring the web of social behaviors, hormonal development, and environmental factors that shape who they become.

Dr. Sabbi’s groundbreaking work tracks chimps from playful juveniles to wise adults, uncovering insights about everything from leadership styles to the mysteries of puberty. What happens when a new alpha male transitions from fierce competitor to gentle caretaker? How do social interactions and play behaviors shape a chimp's future? The answers offer fresh perspectives on the pivotal moments that connect us to our primate cousins.

Through entertaining anecdotes—like the art of collecting chimp urine—and fascinating discoveries about hormonal milestones, this episode unveils the parallels between growing up chimp and growing up human. How does exposure to aggression affect early play behaviors? Can chimpanzees follow our gaze, and what does it mean for their social intelligence?

Tune in now to learn all about growing up as a chimpanzee!

Send us a text

Support the show

Talking Apes is an initiative of the nonprofit GLOBIO.

Support the show
Buy us a coffee to say thanks!
BUY OUR MERCH