• Highly skilled chimpanzee known for recognizing letters, numbers, and colors died at 49
• Her research contributed to understanding primate intelligence

Japanese researchers announced the death of the chimpanzee “Ai” at the age of 49. Ai, described as a “genius,” could recognize over 100 Chinese characters, the English alphabet, as well as Arabic numerals from zero to nine and 11 colors.

Kyoto University, through a scientific center, stated that Ai participated in studies on perception, learning, and memory that helped advance scientists’ understanding of primate intelligence.

The chimpanzee died from multiple organ failure and age-related illnesses.

Ai was capable of performing complex tasks, such as selecting the correct color when shown Chinese characters on a computer screen or drawing a virtual apple using geometric shapes, according to primatologist Tetsuro Matsuzawa.

Her remarkable abilities made her the subject of numerous scientific studies and media programs, including research published in scholarly journals, and earned her the nickname “genius” in popular media.

Ai arrived at Kyoto University from West Africa in 1977, and in 2000 she gave birth to her son Ayumu, whose skills drew scientists’ attention to the study of knowledge transfer between parent and child.