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Scientists Study Gorilla Who Uses Tools
Yahoo!News ^ | October 18, 2005 | ANJAN SUNDARAM

Posted on 10/18/2005 6:33:03 AM PDT by mlc9852

GOMA, Congo - An infant gorilla in a Congo sanctuary is smashing palm nuts between two rocks to extract oil, surprising and intriguing scientists who say they have much to learn about what gorillas can do — and about what that says about evolution.

It had been thought that the premeditated use of stones and sticks to accomplish a task like cracking nuts was restricted to humans and the smaller, more agile chimpanzees. Then in late September, keepers at a Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International sanctuary in this eastern Congo city saw 2 1/2-year-old female gorilla Itebero smashing palm nuts between rocks in the "hammer and anvil" technique, considered among the most complex tool use behaviors.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
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1 posted on 10/18/2005 6:33:03 AM PDT by mlc9852
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To: mlc9852

Better watch our backs. She's evolving.


2 posted on 10/18/2005 6:35:01 AM PDT by jim_trent
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To: mlc9852
Image hosted by Photobucket.com
3 posted on 10/18/2005 6:35:59 AM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: jim_trent

Today Palm Nuts... Tommorrow the World!!!

4 posted on 10/18/2005 6:38:29 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: mlc9852

In the meantime, the gorilla is getting a kick out of watching the reactions of scientists every time she playes with a rudimentary toy that put in her enclosure, and reporting back to Oorg5 via mental telepathy, where the stories are amusing the rest of that planet's occupants.


5 posted on 10/18/2005 6:39:05 AM PDT by theDentist (The Dems have put all their eggs in one basket-case: Howard "Belltower" Dean.)
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To: martin_fierro

Now those are the kind of tools I like to use.


6 posted on 10/18/2005 6:39:07 AM PDT by linkinpunk
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To: HamiltonJay

You've come a long ways baby??


7 posted on 10/18/2005 6:39:20 AM PDT by kjam22
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To: mlc9852

So when is this gorilla going to build a BBQ?


8 posted on 10/18/2005 6:40:19 AM PDT by Dallas59 (“You love life, while we love death.” - Al-Qaeda / Democratic Party)
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To: PatrickHenry
gorilla ping!
9 posted on 10/18/2005 6:40:30 AM PDT by AntiGuv (™)
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To: mlc9852
Sea otters use rocks to open mollusks. This has been known for years.

When science is politicized, everything supports the pet theory. Warm weather and Cold weather both provide evidence of global warming. A gorilla smashing a nut tells us something about Evolution. Pathetic.

Science isn't what it used to be. Now it's mostly politics and grant chasing. I respect technologists because they develop things that prove their worth. Scientists just seem to theorize (and often seem to do it badly).

10 posted on 10/18/2005 6:40:31 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy
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To: HamiltonJay

Who's the Palm? Her gorillaboyfriend?


11 posted on 10/18/2005 6:40:41 AM PDT by Leo Carpathian (FReeeePeee!)
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To: Dallas59

That's the first thing that came to my mind. I wanted to see a gorilla with a pneumatic wrench in hand, about to change a tire or something.


12 posted on 10/18/2005 6:42:28 AM PDT by OKSooner
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To: ClearCase_guy

We had a mouse in our house who somehow managed to take the cotton off the end of Q-tips, and in some cases take the whole Q-tip, got into my daughter's drawer, got one of her long-sleeve shirts, pulled the sleeves inside out and stuffed them with cotton, making quite a nice little nest. It was one of the most amazing things I had ever seen. Not that I want a mouse inside, but they apparently are amazing, intelligent little creatures. I'm quite sure I descended from a mouse and not a chimp. LOL


13 posted on 10/18/2005 6:44:34 AM PDT by mlc9852
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To: OKSooner

Put her on a NASCAR pit crew!


14 posted on 10/18/2005 6:45:52 AM PDT by RicocheT
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To: mlc9852

There is a small bird that uses a twig to poke bugs out of a hole in a tree, doesn't that count? I saw it on some nature channel.


15 posted on 10/18/2005 6:47:09 AM PDT by Ditter
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To: OKSooner

Maybe they could train em to change our car oil??


16 posted on 10/18/2005 6:48:28 AM PDT by Dallas59 (“You love life, while we love death.” - Al-Qaeda / Democratic Party)
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To: Ditter

No. It doesn't look like a human.


17 posted on 10/18/2005 6:49:00 AM PDT by Dallas59 (“You love life, while we love death.” - Al-Qaeda / Democratic Party)
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To: Ditter

And some birds build such intricate nests that last through very strong storms. Many animals do amazing things. I just can't get too excited about an ape that smashes nuts with a rock. Yawn. LOL


18 posted on 10/18/2005 6:49:26 AM PDT by mlc9852
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To: Ditter

I have watch sea otters use rocks to crack open mussel shells on their stomachs and, chipmonks have been using them to open the nuts they collect.


19 posted on 10/18/2005 6:50:12 AM PDT by edcoil (Reality doesn't say much - doesn't need too)
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To: ClearCase_guy
Science isn't what it used to be.

Un-fortunately it IS what it used to be. That's THE problem. When the Catholic Church was a thing to be feared by kings and peasants alike, Science was a politicized to the point of death. Remember what happened to Galileo? DaVinci had to keep all his research secret. Today is no different. Science is at the mercy of the golden rule and he who owns the gold.......

20 posted on 10/18/2005 6:51:16 AM PDT by Red Badger (In life, you don't get what you deserve. You get what you settle for...........)
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