Posted on 10/26/2009 11:01:33 PM PDT by Steelfish
Is This Haunting Picture Proof That Chimps Really DO Grieve?
MICHAEL HANLON 27th October 2009
[Pic in URL] United in what appears to be deep and profound grief, a phalanx of more than a dozen chimpanzees stood in silence watching from behind the wire of their enclosure as the body of one of their own was wheeled past.
This extraordinary scene took place recently at the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center in Cameroon, West Africa.
When a chimp called Dorothy, who was in her late 40s, died of heart failure, her fellow apes seemed to be stricken by sorrow.
Enlarge Chimpanzees appear to console one another as Dorothy is carried to her final resting place in a wheelbarrow
As they wrapped their arms around each other in a gesture of solidarity, Dorothy's female keeper gently settled her into the wheelbarrow which carried her to her final resting place - not before giving this much-loved inhabitant of the centre a final affectionate stroke on the forehead.
Locals from the village serve as 'care-givers' to the chimps - something hugely needed by the animals who are all orphans as their mothers were killed for the illegal bushmeat trade.
Hunters captured them as young babies, often still clinging to their mother's bodies, to sell as pets.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
it does look a bit odd. don’t know about grief but they seem to be aware that something is happening to one of their own.
Let’s see, stages of grief:
Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance
Can chimps “feel” those things?
Why not? Animals are so much smarter than we think. I swear my dogs know when I’m sad. My malti-poo is not a very loving dog. She’s smart, but she’s bit of a loner. In the ten years I’ve had her, I’ve been truly, truly sad to the point of crying maybe three times. Each of those times that dog came over and licked my face and curled up next to me. She NEVER does that. Ever. They know.
On another note, I thought that was a scene I remember from Planet of the Apes.
My sis’ pug has seizures if she’s been really having a bout of stress and health issues. Seriously. He just picks up on when ‘mom’ is not well and it effects him too.
Ugh. I tried to read Next Of Kin, but it was sooo sad that it nearly broke my heart.
Chimps did amazing things with sign language.
My dog has feelings too. I didn’t mean to say the chimps weren’t feeling something, only that didn’t see it in the picture. it was an intriguing picture tho.
Those "scientists" need to get out and actually meet an animal sometime. The author might consider dropping the arrogance of assigning emotions exclusively to humans too. Neither POV is anywhere near the universe of reality.
I got ya. I’ve seen pets do that too. I try to keep in mind though that humans sometimes perceive the actions of animals to serve our best interests in the name of companionship and love.
that’s nonsense made up by a left wing woman doctor. It’s not fact.
stages of grief:
Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance
anyone who doesn’t see grief in this photo is blind.
You’re right. And we do the same thing with Muslims. Rush once did a brilliant monologue about this phenomenon.
well my eyesight isn't as good as it once was, but that was a very rude response. No need to get offensive.
Perhaps the stages of human grief are different than those of other animals?
I didn’t think it was rude.
Ah yes... Muslims aren't human and they don't grieve. /sarcasm
Sheesh!
They are definently expressing tenderness with each other as they look at the dead chimp. It should not be compared to human grief because we are a tad more complex than chimps. But that does not take away from the sweet tenderness in the social expression of these chimps.
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