Communication: Apes purposefully use signals to start and end social interactions, study finds

Apes like chimps and bonobos often use special signals to begin and end social interactions -- much like we might say hello and goodbye -- a study has found. This behaviour had never before been seen in another species outside of humans, explained the researchers, who were led from Durham University. The team also found that, just like with humans, bonobos who were close friends were more likely to be more relaxed about the social niceties when interacting. Apes like chimps and bonobos use special signals to begin and end social interactions -- much like we might say hello and goodbye -- a study has found. The researchers found that social interactions between apes often began and end with distinct signals.