#598: Primatologist Isabel Behncke on Play, Sexual Selection, and Lessons from Following Bonobos for 3,000 Kilometers in the Jungles of Congo

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Jun 1, 2022

Isabel Behncke, a pioneering field primatologist, shares insights from her extraordinary journey studying bonobos in the Congo. She reveals how these playful apes exemplify social bonding and creativity, drawing parallels to human behavior. Discover the significance of play in education and societal development, and how it contrasts with the aggression seen in chimpanzees. Isabel also explores topics like sexual selection, female empowerment among bonobos, and the challenges faced in the wilderness, all while emphasizing the value of understanding our closest animal relatives.

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ANECDOTE

Bonobo Play

In August 2010, Isabel Behncke observed two bonobo males, Bako and Jiro, playing roughly.
This involved nut-kicking, biting, and other physical contact, demonstrating trust and vulnerability.

INSIGHT

Ethology and Applied Ethology

Ethology studies animal behavior in natural habitats to understand adaptations and their relevance to human behavior.
Applied ethology connects scientific findings to societal challenges like cooperation and aggression.

ANECDOTE

Lorenz and Imprinting

Conrad Lorenz famously raised geese and discovered imprinting, showing how chicks attach to the first thing they see.
This highlighted the importance of observing animals in their natural environment to understand their behavior.

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Santa Claus, Last of the Wild Men

Phyllis Siefker

This book delves into the historical and mythological roots of Santa Claus, connecting him to ancient pagan figures and traditions. It challenges the conventional Christian narrative by tracing Santa's origins back over 50,000 years, highlighting his evolution through various cultural influences.

The ape and the sushi master

cultural reflections by a primatologist

Frans de Waal

In *The Ape and the Sushi Master*, Frans de Waal explores the concept of culture in non-human primates, drawing parallels between how behavior is transmitted in ape societies and the cultural process of passing down skills, such as sushi-making. The book delves into the complexities of primate behavior, highlighting their resourcefulness and dignity as members of our extended family.

Human Swarm

Mark Moffett

Invention of Nature

Giovanni Aloi

Andrea Wulf's "Invention of Nature" is a biography of Alexander von Humboldt, a Prussian polymath who made significant contributions to various scientific fields. The book details Humboldt's expeditions and his groundbreaking work in biogeography, geology, and climatology. Wulf's narrative highlights Humboldt's influence on scientific thought and his impact on the development of environmentalism. The book explores Humboldt's personal life and his relationships with other prominent scientists of his time. "Invention of Nature" offers a fascinating glimpse into the life and work of a remarkable figure who shaped our understanding of the natural world.

Of Wolves and Men

Barry López

Originally published in 1978, this book delves into the intricate and varied interactions between humans and wolves over centuries. Lopez uses a wide range of sources, including personal experiences with captive and free-ranging wolves, to create a compelling portrait of the wolf. The book celebrates scientific fieldwork, dispels folklore that has demonized wolves, explains myths, and honors indigenous traditions. It explores how wolves are perceived differently by various cultures, such as scientists, Eskimo hunters, and Native Americans, and argues for the wolf's preservation. The book also examines the historical and cultural significance of wolves in human imagination and society[1][3][4].

Consilience

The Unity of Knowledge

Edward O. Wilson

In 'Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge', E.O. Wilson advocates for the integration of knowledge from different fields to create a unified theory of understanding. He draws on the concept of consilience, introduced by William Whewell, which means the 'jumping together' of knowledge by linking facts and theories across disciplines. Wilson explores the chemistry of the mind, the genetic bases of culture, and the biological principles underlying works of art. He argues that a unified approach can lead to a deeper understanding of the human condition and the natural world, and he critiques the fragmentation of knowledge into separate disciplines. The book is a call for a new Enlightenment, emphasizing the importance of science and reason in understanding all aspects of human existence.

The Goodness Paradox

Richard Wrangham

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Isabel Behncke (@IsabelBehncke) is a field primatologist and applied evolutionary ethologist who studies social behavior in animals (including humans) to understand our urgent challenges with each other and the planet.

Isabel grew up at the foothills of the Andes mountains in Chile, where she developed a life-long love for nature and wildness as well as culture and the arts. An explorer-scientist, she is the first South American to follow great apes in the wild in Africa. She walked more than 3,000 km (~1864 miles) in the jungles of Congo for her field research observing the social lives of wild bonobo apes, who, together with chimpanzees, are our closest living relatives. Isabel documented how bonobos play freely in nature and has extended this research to study how human apes play—at Burning Man, other festivals, and in everyday life. Isabel has observed how play is at the root of creativity, social bonding, and healthy development, findings that have relevance in education, innovation, complex risk assessments, and freedom.

Isabel holds a BSc in Zoology and an MSc in Nature Conservation, both from University College London, an MPhil in Human Evolution from Cambridge University, and a PhD in Evolutionary Anthropology from Oxford University. She has won several distinctions for her public communication and knowledge integration, which range in formats from TED, WIRED, the UN, BBC, and Nat Geo to rural schools in Patagonia and traveling buses of schoolchildren in Congo. She is a senior fellow of the Gruter Institute, a TED fellow, and currently advises the Chilean government, working on long-term strategies in science, technology, innovation, and knowledge for Chile’s president. She can be found in Chile and New York City.

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[08:11] Baco and Jiro

[13:05] What is an applied evolutionary ethologist?

[15:43] Lorenz vs. Skinner

[18:23] The brilliance of consilience

[19:11] Humboldt vs. Darwin and the origins of evolutionary thinking

[29:42] Recent revolutionary thoughts about evolution

[36:16] Complexity and niche construction

[41:33] What’s more fun: a barrel of chimpanzees or a barrel of bonobos?

[49:19] Chimpanzee geography

[59:29] Magnificent bonobos

[1:02:11] Female mammal problems and solutions

[1:09:17] Sexual dimorphism