NOVA

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Narrator

A new test of apes copying skills is about to take place at the Keeling Center in Bastrop, Texas. Lydia Hopper knows that one chimp can learn to operate this tricked out grape dispenser by watching another. (chimpanzee shrieking) Hopper wants to figure out just how much an observer needs to see to get the technique. She uses a nearly invisible line to raise the handle. The chimp is being given the mechanical answer. Does he get it? I make sure that Adonis is oriented towards the window every time I cause the T-ball to rise. And I gave the chimpanzee over 200 demonstrations of this. The chimpanzee watched intently, it saw all the grapes coming out, he was obviously very excited, it was making food grunts. I then give him the tool so that he can then have a go at it himself. Again, just as a reminder to Adonis, I show him the grape. He's clearly interested in the grape. I put it in the device and let him have a go. And it did nothing. And in fact of all the chimpanzees I've given this form of demonstration to none of them were able to solve the task, which I find astounding.