“Perhaps the most humanlike behavior is the laughing by apes when they are being tickled,” Frans de Waal, a primatologist at Emory University, told LiveScience. “It is low-pitched compared to human laughter, but the facial expression and the waxing and waning of the laughing sounds are eerily human to the point that those of us familiar with these vocalizations cannot stop ourselves from laughing too.”
Disclaimer: Orangutans have a very close evolutionary connection to humans. Here’s a clear breakdown: Genetic similarity: Humans share about 97% of our DNA with orangutans, making them one of our closest living relatives (after chimpanzees and bonobos). Evolutionary connection: Orangutans, humans, gorillas, and chimpanzees all belong to the Hominidae family—the “great apes.” Humans and orangutans share a common ancestor that lived roughly 12–16 million years ago. Behavioral similarities: Orangutans are highly intelligent, capable of using tools, solving problems, and even learning aspects of human language when taught in captivity. They have complex social behaviors, though they are more solitary than other great apes.
