Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative facts for kids
| Formation | September 28, 2004 |
|---|---|
| Type | Sanctuary |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) |
| Purpose | understanding the origins and future of culture, language, tools and intelligence |
| Headquarters | USA |
| Location |
The Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative is a special place in Des Moines, Iowa. It is a safe home for great apes and also a science center. Here, scientists study how apes think and communicate.
This facility was first planned in 2002. Its first ape residents arrived in 2004. It was originally called the Great Ape Trust or the Iowa Primate Learning Sanctuary. A scientist named Sue Savage-Rumbaugh helped start it. In 2013, it got its current name. Today, it is home to six amazing bonobos. These bonobos are part of gentle studies about their minds and how they talk. Kennesaw State University now helps support the Ape Initiative.
Discovering Ape Intelligence
The Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative is located on a large area of land, about 230 acres. It is home to a family of six bonobos. Their names are Elikya, Maisha, Nyota, Teco, Clara, and Mali. Another famous bonobo named Kanzi also lived there. Kanzi passed away in 2025.
How Bonobos Learn
Three of these bonobos learned important human skills when they were very young. Kanzi learned to understand language just by watching humans. He saw them trying to teach language to Matata, who was the grandmother of the bonobo family.
Nyota is special because both humans and her language-smart ape mother raised her. Teco, the youngest, helps scientists learn about how language affects development. All three of these bonobos can talk with humans. They use over 400 special symbols called "lexigrams." These symbols are on paper or on computer touch screens.
Amazing Ape Abilities
Scientists have often said that these bonobos can think and make plans. They also seem to understand simple spoken English. Kanzi was even filmed doing some incredible things. He made music, built a fire, and created simple stone tools.
More than 400 science papers and many books have been written about what these bonobos can do. Films showing their achievements have been shown all over the world. They have even been featured on TV shows. These include shows with Oprah, Anderson Cooper, and 60 Minutes in Australia. Famous people like Paul McCartney and Peter Gabriel have also visited them.
