Chimps Catch On to Latest Craze: Butt Grass Is the New Trend!

At the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage in Zambia, a peculiar and amusing trend has emerged among a group of chimpanzees. They have taken up the practice of adorning themselves with grass. However, they aren’t crafting intricate designs—instead, they’re simply inserting blades of grass into their ears and, occasionally, their rear ends.

This quirky behavior was first observed in 2010 with a chimpanzee named Julie who began placing long grass blades in her ears. Following her passing in 2013, her son and several other chimps continued this unusual tradition. Although it appears to serve no practical function, the trend has caught on within their community.

The spectacle escalated with Juma, a male chimp who, in 2023, started inserting grass into his rectum, allowing it to hang out somewhat like a tail. Remarkably, within a week, the entire group had adopted this new style. A study published on July 4 in the journal Behaviour revealed that this behavior was not for cleanliness or health but was purely a form of social signaling.

The Latest Chimpanzee Trend: Grass Blades as Butt Accessories

“In captivity, chimps have significantly more leisure time than they do in the wild,” explained researcher Edwin van Leeuwen. “They aren’t as preoccupied with staying vigilant or foraging for food.” This extra downtime apparently allows for some unique forms of self-expression, like accessorizing their behinds.

The research indicates that this imitation might have deeper social implications. “By replicating another’s behavior, you demonstrate awareness and possibly affection for them,” van Leeuwen noted. “This could be a way to strengthen community ties and foster a sense of belonging, much like it does among humans.”

This is not the first instance of chimpanzees engaging in relatably human-like behaviors. Earlier in the year, another study from Guinea-Bissau documented wild chimps consuming fermented African breadfruit, which contains about 0.61% alcohol. The chimps shared the fruit, suggesting that this could be part of an early bonding ritual possibly centered on communal eating and the shared experience of a mild buzz.

“We know that in humans, consuming alcohol leads to the release of dopamine and endorphins, which bring feelings of joy and relaxation,” stated ecologist Anna Bowland. While the chimps might not have been actually intoxicated, their social interactions were enhanced.

It’s easy to overlook the similarities between us and our primate cousins. Then, one of them sticks a leaf in their rear, and suddenly, the connection becomes a bit more apparent.