Boozing It Up With The Chimps

Scientists have been analyzing the urine of wild chimpanzees who’ve had a bit too much of a good thing – fermented fruit. It turns out, these chimps can’t resist a rotten apple or two, and it’s getting them drunk. Who knew our primate pals shared our love of booze?

The Science Behind The Squirt

Researchers looked at the urine of chimps that had been feasting on fallen fruit, and what they found was surprising. The fermented sugars in the fruit were giving the chimps a significant buzz. It’s not like they’re downing tequila shots or anything, but still – it’s pretty funny to think of a chimpanzee stumbling around the jungle with a hangover.

So, what does this mean for us? Well, it’s not like we needed an excuse to drink, but now we can blame it on our evolutionary roots. It’s in our nature, right? The fact that chimps are also drawn to the stuff suggests that our love of alcohol might be more primal than we thought.