New research conducted by Johns Hopkins University reveals the astonishing memory capabilities of apes. The study, which documents the longest-lasting non-human social memories ever recorded, demonstrates that apes can recognize their friends even after a separation of more than two decades. The findings, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shed light on the cognitive abilities shared between humans and our primate relatives.

Do apes possess the ability to maintain lasting memories of familiar social partners? The study sought to answer this question by examining the behaviors of chimpanzees and bonobos in three different locations: Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland, Planckendael Zoo in Belgium, and Kumamoto Sanctuary in Japan.

Using photographs of apes they hadn't seen for at least nine months, and in some cases up to 26 years, the researchers observed the apes' reactions. Astonishingly, the apes showed significant attention and recognition towards their former group mates, regardless of the duration of separation.

Furthermore, the study revealed that apes demonstrated heightened interest in individuals with whom they had positive relationships. This suggests that they not only remember familiar faces but also retain information about the quality of their social interactions.

The remarkable findings imply that great apes possess social memories that can endure beyond 26 years, rivaling even the memory capacities of humans. This discovery raises intriguing questions about the emotional bonds and potential longing for individuals they are no longer with.

This groundbreaking research illuminates the deep cognitive connections shared by humans and apes, emphasizing the complex nature of social relationships and memory in primates.