Do apes have imagination? A tea party experiment offers clues

Kanzi grew up among humans, so it's hard to say whether his abilities extend to all apes or are because of his special upbringing. - (Ape Initiative via AP)

Imagination, often seen as a cornerstone of human creativity, allowing children to transform bedrooms into castles and host make-believe tea parties, may not be exclusive to our species after all.

For the first time, an experiment offers compelling hints that a captive ape possesses this capacity.