20/10/2025
More than ten years since a chimpanzee called Julie ignited a quirky habit of tucking grass stems into her ear at Zambia's Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage, another troop of primates has brought back the custom—with an added flair—by stuffing blades of grass and twigs into their ears and rear ends.
Outlined in a fresh paper from the journal Behaviour, the resurgence began with a young male named Juma, who soon inspired his companions to join in, all within just seven days.
Experts believe the quirk might trace back to the sanctuary's staff, as keepers have admitted to employing bits of grass or wooden matches for ear cleaning, possibly inspiring the apes.
The two separate chimp communities never interacted directly, yet they relied on overlapping human caregivers, which may account for the tradition's transmission.
At first, several animals appeared uneasy, fidgeting with their heads or scratching at the insertions, but they soon grew accustomed. "Much like people, they're apparently ready to tolerate a bit of irritation for the sake of style," noted principal investigator Jake Brooker, likening it to the human ritual of getting ears pierced.