Sultan (chimpanzee)

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Sultan was one of the brightest chimpanzees used in early psychology experiments. He was studied by the Gestalt psychologist Wolfgang Köhler. Sultan showed real insight in solving problems. He stacked boxes to reach a banana and even tied two sticks together to pull food closer. Other chimpanzees in Köhler’s studies could also solve problems, but Sultan was especially advanced. These experiments helped show that animals can learn by understanding a problem, not just by trial and error. For example, when crates weren’t available, some chimpanzees realized that a table or chair could help them reach the fruit.