Chimpanzees consume equivalent of a beer a day in alcohol from fermented fruit
a day ago
- #chimpanzees
- #primate behavior
- #alcohol
- Chimpanzees in the wild consume about 14g of pure ethanol daily through fermented fruit, equivalent to half a pint of beer.
- Researchers studied ethanol levels in fallen fruit in Kibale (Uganda) and Taï (Ivory Coast) national parks.
- Chimps eat 5-10% of their body weight in ripe fruit daily, leading to substantial alcohol intake despite low individual fruit alcohol levels.
- The 'drunken monkey' hypothesis suggests human alcohol attraction stems from primate ancestors' consumption of energy-rich, fermented fruit.
- Chimps show no obvious signs of inebriation despite consuming about 4.5kg of fermented fruit daily.
- Other animals, like slow lorises, also consume alcohol, showing it's common in the animal kingdom.
- The NHS recommends no more than 14 units of alcohol per week for humans, but studies show no healthy level of consumption.