These guys and the great apes are so human-like that it's hard to believe that there is another subspecies that is even more like us than chimps and gorillas, and that would be the bonobos. I didn't even know bonobos existed until just a few years ago, when I chanced upon some videos of them on YouTube. Then I saw some for the first time at the Cincinnati Zoo a couple of years ago, where some behaviors were downright spookily close to ours.
Another aspect entirely of all this is that the simian species - particularly the great apes - experience a wide range of emotions parallel to our own. This would include tendencies to become bored and depressed in certain conditions (see this post) as well as fun-loving and entertaining in others, all a product of superior intelligence. Perhaps even a sense of humor, or negative aspects such as sadism, depending on the disposition and personality of the individual.
One thing is for sure; these guys appear to be more prone to react more intelligently to their surroundings. There is a place called the Snake Farm between Austin and San Antonio. A few decades ago they had a gorilla there in a cage no more than a dozen feet square. If you can imagine such a strong and intelligent beast being confined to a space that small year after year and what it would do to you, this animal's behavior can hardly be surprising. He would sit there with a benign expression on his face until visitors got real close to the cage for a good look, then he would reach back and sling his feces right at them! There was a sign there warning of this behavior. Thankfully in time the gorilla died - or was rescued - and no longer there to entertain himself in such a manner.
No comments:
Post a Comment