Hi all! Calvin here. JJ the chimpanzee might look a little different from us, but did you know he’s actually one of our closest relatives? Chimpanzees share about 98.8% of their DNA with humans! That’s incredibly close – closer than to any other animal. This shared genetic heritage means JJ and his chimp buddies at the research facility have a lot in common with us. The dedicated team studies chimpanzee behavior and cognition, and because of our close genetic link, what we learn from JJ and his group can sometimes help us better understand ourselves. Like us, they can learn, problem-solve, and even experience a range of emotions. They have complex social structures and communicate with each other in surprisingly sophisticated ways. Seeing JJ interact with his family group at the facility, you can really see those similarities. While there are definitely important differences, it’s amazing to think about how much we share with these incredible primates. It makes you feel a special connection to JJ and all the chimpanzees!
— Calvin Poe