Animals Have Imagination Too: New Research Reveals Fantasy in Primates

The line separating human cognitive abilities from those of our closest primate relatives may be blurrier than previously thought. New research, published February 5, 2026, in the journal Science, demonstrates that a bonobo named Kanzi could reliably track the location of imaginary objects – a skill previously considered uniquely human.

The study, led by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, involved a series of “tea party” style experiments. Kanzi, a bonobo renowned for his ability to understand spoken English and who contributed decades of scientific knowledge before his death in 2025, was presented with scenarios involving pretend actions, such as pouring juice between empty cups. Despite knowing the juice wasn’t physically present, Kanzi consistently indicated where the imaginary liquid was located.

This ability to understand and track pretend objects hinges on what cognitive scientists call “secondary representations” – mental models of imagined states that exist separately from reality. Until now, the capacity to form and manipulate these representations was largely believed to be exclusive to humans, underpinning abilities like pretense, future planning and understanding the beliefs of others.

Understanding Pretend Play

Researchers have long observed that humans develop an understanding of imagination through pretend play. This involves conjuring an imagined state, a “secondary representation,” distinct from the immediate reality. The new research suggests bonobos possess a similar capacity. Anecdotal evidence from observations of chimpanzees – juvenile chimps pushing imaginary blocks and wild females cradling sticks as if they were infants – hinted at this possibility, but Kanzi’s performance provides the strongest experimental evidence to date.

“It really is game-changing that their mental lives go beyond the here and now,” says Dr. Christopher Krupenye, a co-author of the study and a professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Johns Hopkins. “Imagination has long been seen as a critical element of what This proves to be human, but the idea that it may not be exclusive to our species is really transformative.”

Kanzi’s Legacy

Kanzi was a particularly valuable subject for this type of research due to his unique linguistic abilities. He communicated with his human caregivers using a lexigram keyboard, allowing researchers to understand his requests and observe his cognitive processes. His prior participation in numerous experiments over many years provided a strong foundation for this latest investigation.

The experiments built upon Kanzi’s established understanding of language and object permanence. Researchers weren’t simply testing if Kanzi could *see* an object; they were testing if he could maintain a mental representation of an object that wasn’t actually there. This is a crucial distinction, as it demonstrates a level of abstract thought previously thought to be uniquely human.

Implications for Animal Cognition and Conservation

The findings have significant implications for our understanding of animal cognition and the evolution of intelligence. If imagination isn’t solely a human trait, it suggests that the cognitive building blocks for complex thought processes may have evolved earlier in the primate lineage than previously believed.

Beyond the scientific implications, researchers hope the study will raise awareness about the plight of bonobos. Bonobos are an endangered species native to the Democratic Republic of Congo, facing threats from habitat loss, and poaching. “My hope is that that kind of insight compels people to care for these animals,” Krupenye added. Understanding the complex cognitive abilities of bonobos may foster a greater appreciation for their intelligence and encourage conservation efforts.

The research also prompts a re-evaluation of how we assess intelligence in animals. Traditional tests often focus on skills that are readily observable, such as tool use or problem-solving. However, the ability to imagine and understand abstract concepts may be equally important indicators of cognitive sophistication, and are more difficult to measure.

While Kanzi’s passing in 2025 marks the end of an era in primate research, his legacy continues to shape our understanding of the animal mind. This latest study, built upon decades of work with Kanzi, provides compelling evidence that the capacity for imagination may not be what sets humans apart, but rather a shared trait that connects us to our primate relatives.