I think its because apes are so like us that its easier to put human qualities onto them, and to be honest, monkies really are very inquisitive

)
in the UK we have a saying :- curiosity killed the cat..... meaning that curiosity can get you into all sorts of trouble but thats just an old wives tale

) and if we were not curious about stuff we would never have left the cave when we were cavemen
To do is to be - Descartes, To be is to do - Voltaire, Do be do be do - Sinatra.