The ability to work together has been crucial to the success of our species, allowing us to overcome many challenges. From obtaining food to constructing skyscrapers and forming governments, humans have harnessed the power of cooperation to achieve remarkable feats. However, the evolutionary origins of our cooperative nature are not yet fully understood.

Previous studies in zoos/sanctuaries have shown that chimpanzees are able to work together quite well in groups of two. However, reports of possible cooperation from the wild often involve groups much larger than this e.g. when hunting or patrolling. We want to better understand chimpanzee cooperation in larger group sizes and the challenges that arise, in a controlled zoo environment. Can the chimpanzees work together well in groups of all sizes, or is there a group size at which coordination becomes more difficult and cooperation starts to fail?

In this study chimpanzees have to work together in groups of two, three, and four to collect tasty ice cubes. Each chimpanzee is presented with a device that requires pulling on a rope to release a trapdoor.  When the devices are connected together all trapdoors need to be opened simultaneously for the group to receive the rewards. Will they be able to overcome their competitive instincts and work together to achieve group benefits? This research will provide insights into the evolution of cooperation and the challenges of coordinating larger groups.