Ai, a female chimpanzee famous for her cognitive skills, has died at 49, according to the Japanese institute where she lived.
The Kyoto University's Center for the Evolutionary Origins of Human Behavior stated that Ai passed away on January 9 due to old age and organ failure, surrounded by staff who cared for her.
Born in western Africa, Ai was brought to Japan in 1977 to be part of the Ai Project, a research program dedicated to understanding the 'chimpanzee mind.' Among her notable achievements was the ability to use numbers and identify colors.
Researchers provided Ai with a special keyboard linked to a computer at just 18 months old, allowing them to study her memory and learning capabilities. By the age of five, Ai had mastered numerical naming and could identify various colors and objects.
When not engaging in cognitive tests, Ai enjoyed expressing herself through drawing and painting, often creating art without any food rewards as motivation.
In a remarkable incident, Ai once escaped her enclosure after using a key, an event that showcased her cleverness. In 2000, she gave birth to a son named Ayumu, who has also demonstrated impressive cognitive abilities.
On the 40th anniversary of the Ai Project in 2017, Ai’s artwork was recognized when a scarf made from one of her paintings was presented to celebrated primatologist Dame Jane Goodall.
Ai's legacy continues to inspire scientists and animal lovers around the world, shedding light on the cognitive abilities of primates.
