Panpanzee & Panbanisha - 1986-1990

Considering the question of receptive competence for spoken English, Savage-Rumbaugh proceeded to investigate the questions of species variables in a co-rearing study of a chimpanzee and a bonobo. In this study, Savage-Rumbaugh had hoped to have Kanzi’s mother Matata raise chimpanzee Panpanzee and bonobo Panbanisha in identical environments. They were born within three weeks of each other. While Matata took good care of both babies, she would only allow Panbanisha to nurse. At that point, Savage-Rumbaugh and her human colleagues assumed the rearing of both babies until they were four years old.

Based upon this study, Savage-Rumbaugh determined that the failure of the chimpanzees Sherman and Austin to comprehend spoken English is not a species-specific variable, as both Panpanzee and Panbanisha developed receptive competence for English.