The “twisted” experiment that tried to raise a baby with a chimpanzee

On June 26, 1931, psychologist Winthrop Niles Kellogg began an experiment that took a turn that neither he nor his wife, Luella, imagined.

After wondering about “What separates us humans from animals?”, This professor at the University of Indiana decided to raise his own son in the company of a monkey, who would be treated as part of the family.

The objective of this experiment was to analyze whether the natural instincts of the primate were more dominant or recessive regarding the environment where he would be raised. Thus, it was expected that he would begin to develop a behavior closer to that of a human child.

According to records written by Kellogg in his work ‘The Boy and the Monkey’, the psychologist devised this model of experiment after considering the option of leaving a baby alone in nature as unfeasible, in order to analyze their behavior being ‘raised’ by animals.

The arrival of a new member of the family

That June 26, Gua, a chimpanzee then seven and a half months old, arrived at the Kellogg’s home. The primate was introduced to little Donald, who was ten months old, as his sister.

The parameters of the experiment were clear. Donald and Gua would be treated the same, dressed the same, they would be taught to acquire the same skills.

During the nine months Following the experiment, both babies were measured for blood pressure, body size, strength, dexterity, locomotion, reflexes, vocalization, and memory.

In the recordings found, it is also seen how the ‘brothers’ are exposed to loud noises to analyze their reaction, how they were fed both with a spoon and are even subjected to small doses of pain.

A chimpanzee with great dexterity

As reported in the aforementioned text, Gua’s behavior was exceptional. She was able to follow orders better than her ‘brother’, she learned to go to the bathroom alone and to eat with cutlery.

The little chimpanzee developed human skillsHe even gave kisses and asked for forgiveness. Inadvertently, Gua had become the leader, who began teaching typical monkey skills to Donald.

Despite his talent, Gua did not learn to pronounce human language. The scientists noted that “had reached his intellectual limit”.

Turning his son into an ape-man

For his part, little Donald, who had been overshadowed by Gua’s abilities, began to imitate his ‘monkey sister’.

The parents were alarmed when the boy began to imitate the chimpanzee’s language. Records show that the boy gasped to ask for something. It also grunted and bit the others. The small imitated more often chimpanzee behaviors.

The normal linguistic development in a child of that age was not in Donald, who could pronounce only three words, while children of his age pronounced about 50.

The end of the ‘twisted’ experiment

Originally, Donald and Gua were planned to be raised together for five years. However, the experiment was stopped just nine months after it started.

On the one hand, the American media company ‘OZY’ points out that parents were concerned when they saw that their child’s development was limited. On the other hand, it is said that they were only ‘exhausted’ by the experiment and double breeding.

Little Gua was returned to Orange Park, where her mother and other monkeys lived in captivity. However, he did not adapt to the pack and passed away a year later, according to reports.

Kellogg published his research and received harsh criticism, not only for having applied a ‘cruel experiment’ to both babies, but for having turned their son into a monkey, according to the blog ‘Gizmodo’.

For his part, little Donald Kellogg managed to develop as a common child, studied medicine and specialized in psychiatry. However, reports indicate that he committed suicide at age 43, in 1973.

There are those who relate this event to the experience of his childhood, but there are no reports that indicate that this was the reason for his determination.

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