Apes Have Never Asked Questions Despite Scientists Communicating with Them Since ’60s? [Video]

For more than a century, historical documents show researchers have conducted experiments to determine whether apes are capable of communicating not only with members of their own species, but with their human cousins as well.

In light of this, some social media users have posited that although scientists have communicated with apes for decades via sign language, “apes have never asked one question.”

In short, whether such claims are true depends largely on how one perceives language, communication, and what constitutes a question. Decades of scientific research shows apes can communicate with other apes and humans, and some interpretations of these interactions appear to confirm their ability to ask questions.

Some documents also indicate that scientists have been communicating with apes since at least the 1930s — not the 1960s as the post above claims.

What Are Apes?

Apes are primates with hair, fingernails, opposable thumbs, …