Japanese researchers have found that chimpanzees tend to pee when one of them does so.
The researchers from Kyoto University based their findings on 600 hours of observing 20 primates’ 1,328 urination events at the Kyoto University Wildlife Research Center Kumamoto Sanctuary in Uki, Kumamoto Prefecture, Asahi Shimbun reports.
Urination was more likely to occur when the monkeys are closer to the first one to urinate, usually the leader of the troop, and peeing occurred within 60 seconds of another urination event, the study found.
Ena Onishi, a doctoral program student with the Kyoto University graduate school and in charge of the study, cited three reasons why chimpanzees collectively pee: strengthening social cohesion among individuals, facilitating group behavior, and reducing the risk of being detected by predators, according to Asahi Shimbun.
The research results were published on 20 January in Current Biology, a United States science journal.
Meanwhile, police in New Hampshire, United States, received an anonymous tip about online videos showing disturbing vandalism at a local food store on 10 February.
The Monadnock Food Co-Op in Keene City, Cheshire County, was forced to remove the contaminated products, worth $1,500, and sanitize the store.
Police tracked down and arrested the culprit, 23-year-old content creator Kelli Tedford, on 21 February, the Keene Police Department said, USA Today reports.
For relieving herself on the store’s food, Tedford was charged with felony criminal mischief and will be arraigned in court on 7 April, according to USA Today.
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