Is Chimp Grief Evidence of Evolution? | The Institute for Creation Research

Is Chimp Grief Evidence of Evolution?

As genetic research continues, the similarity between humans and our supposed closest evolutionary ancestor, the chimpanzee, becomes more and more distant—well beyond the bounds of any evolutionary probability. But the secular world appears determined to show how chimps can behave similar to humans to bolster the failing evolutionary story.

The most recent media buzz centers on several stories in which chimps are shown grieving over a dearly departed comrade.1,2 But is this grief exclusive to humans and chimps, or do other animals display this anguished-looking behavior as well? As it turns out, the grieving process is common across the animal kingdom. In fact, scientists recently studied it among elephants.1

And although chimps and elephants are well known for their intelligence compared to other animals, grieving over the loss of an animal buddy is also common among seemingly less intelligent critters, such as birds.

Clearly these latest secular media stories are trying to humanize chimpanzees to prop up the failing evolutionary story. These efforts are nothing more than examples of cherry-picking data from the animal kingdom that is convenient to telling the evolutionary story. We are made in God's image. An animal's grief—even a sad-faced chimp's—can't be compared to the heart-felt sorrow we experience at the death of a loved one.

References

  1. Balter, M. 2010. Chimps Grieve Over Dead Relatives. Science. Posted on sciencemag.org April 26, 2010, accessed May 20, 2016. 
  2. Walker, M. 2016. Chimps filmed grieving for dead friend. BBC. Posted on bbc.com May 18, 2016, accessed May 26, 2016. 

*Dr. Tomkins is Director of Life Sciences at the Institute for Creation Research and earned his Ph.D. in genetics from Clemson University.

Article posted on June 9, 2016.

The Latest
NEWS
May 2025 ICR Wallpaper
"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans...

NEWS
Acoustic Communication in Animals
We are all familiar with vocalizations in the animal world. For example, dogs bark, birds sing, frogs croak, and whales send forth their own distinct...

ACTS & FACTS
Creation Kids: Crystals!
by Michael Stamp and Susan Windsor* You're never too young to be a creation scientist and explore our Creator's world. Kids, discover...

APOLOGETICS
Playing Chess with Little Furry Critters
God’s multifarious and marvelous designs for basic creature needs are so innovatively clever and providentially purposeful that Christ’s...

ACTS & FACTS
Credit Only Our Creator
History was my favorite subject as a young kid. But it always puzzled me when my teachers said, “We study history so that we don’t repeat...

ACTS & FACTS
Genomic Tandem Repeats: Where Repetition Is Purposely Adaptive
Tandem repeats (TRs) are short sequences of DNA repeated over and over again like the DNA letter sequence TACTACTAC, which is a repetition of TAC three...

ACTS & FACTS
Dinosaur National Monument: Fossil Graveyard of the Flood
Straddling the border of Utah and Colorado, Dinosaur National Monument (DNM) is one of the richest exposures of dinosaur fossils in the world.1...

ACTS & FACTS
The Transforming Influence of Genesis: Worker Dignity and Safety
When Pharisees questioned the Lord Jesus about marriage, He answered by quoting Genesis 1:27: “But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made...

NEWS
Giant ''Meg'' Shark: Longer and Leaner?
Fossil remains of the giant shark Otodus megalodon have been found in Miocene1 and Pliocene2 rock layers, which ICR scientists...

CREATION.LIVE PODCAST
Searching for Truth Across the Globe | Creation.Live Podcast:...
How can we bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the truth of creation to others outside our small spheres of influence?   Host...