Kanzi: The Ape at the Brink of the Human Mind (26 page)

Lana, the first ape to use a keyboard system, constructs one of a number of complex “stock sentences” she was taught; here, “?You put piece of bread in machine.” When Lana touched the symbols on the keyboard, the image was projected above the board in the order of her selection. After food was loaded into the machine at her request, Lana then had to extract each piece from the dispenser using other stock sentences, such as, “Please machine give piece of bread.” (
Photograph by Frank Kiernan)

A computer “read” Lana’s sentences, and if they were grammatically correct and corresponded to the food that was actually in the machine, the computer vended Lana a piece of the requested food. Lana revealed to us that she could go beyond the “stock” sentences to construct novel appropriate requests. For example, when the machine was broken and food could not be loaded, Lana was able to ask, “?You move food into room?” (
Photograph by Frank Kiernan)

Austin (on the right) has just watched as a particular type of food was hidden in the plastic container. Austin has learned that he can have this food only if both he and Sherman ask for it correctly. Sherman, however, does not know what food to request, since he did not see the food as it was placed in the container. After realizing that Sherman does not know what to ask for, Austin uses the keyboard to identify the food he saw hidden. Sherman watches, then asks for the correct food. (
Photograph by Sue Savage-Rumbaugh)

Austin and Sherman sharing food at a picnic using their version of the portable computer keyboard. By ages eight and nine, they had mastered ninety-two symbols and could readily use them to communicate with each other as well as with people. (
Photograph by Elizabeth Pugh)

One day Kanzi wanted to go for a ride in the lab van but found it locked. When no one would give him a key, he tried the next best thing—a screwdriver that the shop foreman had left nearby. (
Photograph by Elizabeth Pugh)

Kanzi’s younger sister, Panbanisha (one year old here), studies a photograph of one of the places where food is hidden in the forest. When the apes were too young to understand symbols, we often showed them photos of the places we planned to go in this way. They liked this practice immensely and studied the pictures intently, as Panbanisha does here. (
Photograph by Sue Savage-Rumbaugh)

Feral born and reared, Matata studies her mirror image. Although she has not been able to learn language, like most apes she quickly recognized herself when given the opportunity to gaze into a mirror. Matata uses the mirror to facilitate the extraction of tiny hairs from her chin, so she will not appear to have the least sign of a “beard.” We do not know where she acquired this practice, because it was not demonstrated for her; perhaps bonobos have something akin to vanity in the wild. (
Photograph by Elizabeth Pugh)

In this important experiment, Sherman has been shown some bananas being put into a box on his side c a divided room with a window separating him and Austin. Austin does not se this happening. The box has been locked, so that Sherman will need a key to open it. Here Sherman goe to the keyboard and state “give key.” (
Photographs b Sue Savage-Rumbaugh)

Austin watches from his side of the room and reaches into the tool kit for the key.

Sherman (left) approaches and Austin hands him the key.

Sherman goes back to the box, inserts the key into the padlock, and twists the key to open the lock.