Humans And The Big Primates... We Are So Similar

 

With the holidays approaching and people getting together, it is time to reflect on what it means to have companionship. There are some animals that are solitary, like some of the big cats. But they seem to be rare. Many animals crave companionship with each other. 

If we look at our closest animal relatives, bonabos, chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas, it's almost like watching humans. They share meals, they hug, they bring gifts, they have many complex social rituals.

Scott Simon at NPR did a story on animals hugging. It's worth a read or a listen. Here's the link:

Scott Simon NPR.org