By Sakshi Sah
Published Jun 13, 2025

Hindustan Times
Trending

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Do animals have a sense of humour? Here’s what science suggests

We think humour is just for humans, but animals may use it too.

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You might believe laughter is what makes us human. But some animals seem to enjoy jokes and teasing as well.

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A study from UCLA watched 75 hours of video of great apes in zoos. They saw apes teasing each other on purpose.

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Great apes- like chimps, gorillas, bonobos, and orangutans- showed 18 teasing actions.

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They poked, hit, pulled hair, and waved things in each other’s faces.

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These playful actions were like what young human children do.

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Dogs make a funny snorting sound when playing, which may be their version of laughter.

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Even rats laughed. One researcher tickled them, and they squeaked in a way that sounded like giggling.

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Science now shows animals may laugh and tease too, so humour might not be just for humans after all.

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