Computers for primates

Computers for primates:

"Visitors get to watch the antics, and zoo officials hope that opening up the research will raise awareness of the world's rapidly diminishing orangutan population."

Hey, I've got an idea. How about if you want to raise awareness about the world's diminishing orangutan population, you make an educational program about threats to the wild population?

The notion that orangutans playing computer games has anything to do with natural behavior or conservation is utterly preposterous. Conservation education needs to be grounded in conservation topics. The spectacle of an ape playing with a computer does nothing to communicate urgency, let alone the details of the plight of wild orangutans. Quite the opposite.

The zoo's decision to spend money on tree-mounted computers communicates that when it comes right down to it and the zoo gets to choose priorities, exhibition is more important than in situ conservation.

Jaya - unlucky # 7

Reuters AlertNet - MADAGASCAR: Successive cyclones bring Madagascar to its knees

I cannot believe the cyclone season that Madagascar is sustaining this year. The human suffering is surely extensive. I haven't yet seen any estimates for tolls on the forests or fauna. I imagine it will be equally dreadful.

From the article:

"Tropical cyclone Jaya made landfall on Madagascar's northeastern coast today on a projected trajectory that will see it rage through areas already devastated by cyclone Indlala just over two weeks ago.

"This is the worst cyclone season in the recorded history of the country," Dusan Zupka, the Senior Emergency Coordination Officer assigned to Madagascar by the United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA) in Geneva, told IRIN.

I suppose that the US will give something on the order of $1.50 and a shipment of used blankets. How sad.

Chicago Tribune: We must think of the primates

In conjunction with the recent "Mind of the Chimpanzee" conference held in Chicago, the Tribune ran a nice article about the mental and emotional lives of our closest great ape cousins. I wrote this Letter to the Editor (scroll down the page view) in response, noting:

Given everything we know about chimpanzees, is there any basis for assuming that involuntary confinement, social isolation, painful procedures and other violations of their interests imposed by people don’t register? The answer is "No."

One of the heart-warming stories in the original Tribune article ("Empathy for one's fellow chimp" 3/23/2007) was about Knuckles, a chimpanzee who has cerebral palsy. Despite the fact that he does not follow chimpanzee norms, Knuckles is accepted and shown an unusual kindness by others. Such behavior suggests empathy and a sophisticated understanding of the mind of "the other" on the part of fellow group members. To my way of thinking, their behavior indicates they understand clearly that Kunckles' needs and abilities differ from others.

New evidence of 'human' culture among primates

This is not the first evidence of cultural traditions or transmission among non-human primates, but it is another notable case study.

A note to the authors of the original source: It certainly seems that it's time to drop the "human" as a modifier for the word culture; putting it in quotes no longer suffices.

Dr Moura carried out his research in the Serra da Capivara National Park, in the Piaui state of north-east Brazil, during which he observed bouts of stone-banging, primarily among a group of 10 monkeys. As he approached, the monkeys would first search for a suitable loose stone, then hit it on a rock surface several times.

The act was apparently an aggressive one, directed at Dr Moura as a potential predator, but as the group became used to his presence in the area the stone-banging decreased. Furthermore, in a large minority of cases, adults and juvenile monkeys were seen banging the stones together without paying him any attention at all - suggesting that the younger monkeys were learning the skill from their more experienced elders. Captive monkeys released into the area that joined the study group also appeared to be learning to bang stones from the others.

Given the evidence and the apparent meaning of the stone-banging gestures, perhaps the next important consideration is whether we ought to heed the demand to leave the monkeys alone.


For full text of news announcement see: New evidence of 'human' culture among primates

Illegal Bushmeat Trade Thriving In Bay Area

A CBS report out of the Bay area indicates that the illegal bushmeat trade is thriving right here in American cities. Comments from public health officials and an ecologist from UC Berekeley suggest that there are serious risks for disease and for the extinction of wild animals because of the demand for bushmeat.

From the article:

U.C. Berkeley Wildlife Ecology Professor Justin Brashares says health is not the only issue. He's worried whole species are now in danger of extinction.

...

Brashares said his team of volunteers have seen markets openly selling the banned meat. The black market is especially lucrative in the Bay Area, including San Francisco and San Jose.

Brashares says anyone who wants it can find bushmeat. He once asked a taxi driver from Africa if he missed bushmeat.

For full story and video see CBS 5 link