Ai, the genius chimpanzee who mastered Chinese characters and the English alphabet, has died

A «genius» chimpanzee called Ai, what could recognize more than 100 Chinese characters and the English alphabetdied at age 49, Japanese researchers reported.

Ai, whose name means «amor» in Japanese, participated in studies on perception, learning and memory that expanded our understanding of primate intelligence, the Center for the Evolutionary Origins of Human Behavior at Kyoto University said in a statement.

He died on Friday due to multiple organ failure and ailments related to old age, the university said.

In addition to knowing Chinese characters and the alphabet, Ai could also identify Arabic numerals from zero to nine and 11 colorsdijo el primatólogo Tetsuro Matsuzawa en 2014.

In 2000 Ai gave birth to Ayumu (AFP).

In one study, Ai was presented with a computer screen that displayed the Chinese character for the color pink, along with a pink square and an alternate purple square. The chimpanzee correctly chose the pink square, Matsuzawa explained.

When shown an apple, Ai would select a rectangle, a circle and a dot on the computer screen to draw a «virtual apple,» he added.

A unique animal

Her great ability made her the subject of numerous academic articles and media programs, including studies published in the journal Natureand earned him the nickname «genius» in popular media.

Ai sleeping. A genius chimpanzee (Twitter).

The chimpanzee, originally from West Africa, arrived at the university in 1977 and, in 2000, gave birth to Ayumu, whose abilities attracted attention to studies on knowledge transfer, the Japanese agency reported. Kyodo News.

Ai’s studies helped establish «an experimental framework for understanding the chimpanzee mind, providing a crucial basis for considering the evolution of the human mind,» the Center said.

«Ai was very curious and actively participated in these studies, revealing for the first time various aspects of the chimpanzee mind.»

AFP Agency.

GML