Scientists have discovered a unique habit in humans’ closest living relatives – chimpanzees. Researchers at Kyoto University found that chimps intentionally pee in groups, which is surprising given that every animal needs to relieve itself. This behavior is not random and seems to be influenced by social hierarchy.
According to the study published in Current Biology, 20 captive chimps urinated over 1,328 events while being observed for 600 hours. The results showed that peeing was more synchronized when nearby individuals were also urinating. Lower-ranking chimps were more likely to follow others’ lead when they were peeing.
The researchers believe that this behavior could be related to social bonding and hidden leadership in synchronizing group activities. The findings raise questions about the role of contagious urination in chimpanzee societies, which could have implications for understanding human behavior as well.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/scientists-strange-habit-humans-closest-163428141.html