I believe that the study of chimpanzees, while it has taught us a great deal about the place of chimpanzees in nature, has taught us an equal amount about humans' place in nature. It's made us a little humble. It's certainly made me a little humble because I realize that humans are not the only rational, thinking beings on the planet. And that we're not the only creatures capable of altruism and self-sacrifice. Chimpanzees differ from us genetically in the structure of the DNA by only just over one percent.
Chimps can reason, solve problems.
They have some idea of the future. And they can make plans, and perhaps most important are the similarities in the expression of the emotions. Chimpanzees are so like us, that they blur the line once perceived as so sharp between humans on the one side and non-humans on the other. And that leads us to a new respect for all the other amazing non-human beings with whom we share the planet. And ways in which we as humans need to change to live in greater harmony with the planet.