However, high intelligence, unique abilities, and strength posed a challenge to the multiple handlers he had in his lifetime. But Oliver’s abilities were beyond the usual mimicry abilities that chimpanzees exhibit. It is possible that Oliver’s natural human-like abilities were heightened due to his proximity to humans, and his natural intelligence helped him learn more human abilities. His logical abilities also grew with time as he could make decisions as per the situation at hand. Moreover, he would often drink cocktails in the evening, being able to mix drinks and create his own drink as per taste. For example, he habitually drank morning coffee like a human. Oliver’s Later LifeĪs Oliver grew old, his human-like intelligence and behavior only developed further. He learned to manage heavy loads by pushing them around in a wheelbarrow. Oliver would help his trainers in handling other apes, feeding them sometimes.Īnother major sign that Oliver had near human-like intelligence was his ability to use tools and simple machines. His intelligence and abilities also surpassed those of his fellow apes.
This seemed to further establish him as more of a human than an ape. Although unusual, Oliver preferred the company of humans over animals. On the other hand, Oliver seemed to be fine with not being part of the community. The Bergers owned other chimps who they regularly trained, but according to the couple, Oliver lived in exclusion from the chimpanzee community because of his unique qualities and looks. Because of this, he grew popular, and public curiosity in him also grew to a great extent. Oliver started appearing on the show frequently. His attraction towards Janet Berger by the time he reached 16 might also have been due to the way his ape peers treated him.įrank and Janet Berger were famous animal trainers who frequently appeared on the popular Ed Sullivan Show. Janet Berger has even gone on record saying Oliver had was more attracted by human females than chimpanzee females. Many also believe that Oliver preferred the company of humans more than chimpanzees.
This led to speculation that human sperm could be used to fertilize the egg of a chimpanzee or other primate, creating a hybrid. For example, in 1977, genetic researcher Michael Bedford found out that human sperm can penetrate the outer protective covering of a gibbon egg. In fact, scientists have continued their research into the grey area where apes and humans overlap throughout the 20th century. In the primate family, apes such as chimpanzees, gibbons, and gorillas are often attributed human-like intelligence and features. Nevertheless, there have been consistent research efforts towards understanding the genetic similarities and compatibilities between apes and humans. To avoid the possibility of creating such a creature, and what it would mean for society and our place in the universe, Ivanov was sent to exile in Kazakhstan in 1930, where he died a couple of years later. Even though there is considerable curiosity around creating a hybrid of man and ape, there are many skeptics in the scientific world.Ĭoncerned by his experiments, authorities became alarmed of the prospects of a “humanzee” hybrid. In 1929, Soviet scientist Ilya Ivanovich Ivanov apparently came very close to creating a human-ape hybrid. In fact, scientists have time and again tried to create a hybrid of humans and apes, theorizing that the close DNA match might make this viable.
There have been many experiments in the past designed to understand the connection between humans and our closest relatives, the great apes.
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