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New Great Ape Discovered?

DrLudicrous writes "CNN is running a story about sightings of an ape in central Africa that doesn't seem to fit the description of known apes. Pictures of the animal are rare, but it seems slightly taller than most gorillas, with a flatter face. One woman even reported seeing it walk upright on two legs. It has been hypothesized that the ape might be a new species, a subspecies, or perhaps a hybrid between two other species."

17 of 337 comments (clear)

  1. Here are more pictures. by rkz · · Score: 4, Funny
    1. Re:Here are more pictures. by tkittel · · Score: 5, Funny

      > This is another picture of the great ape in its natural habitat

      and here is yet another great ape...

  2. That explains it... by Call+Me+Black+Cloud · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wondered why CowboyNeal hasn't been showing up in the polls...he's been out camping!

    Let me say that I like CN and think he should be in all the polls. This post is intended to be good natured and not mean spririted.

  3. _Clever_ tricks? by errl · · Score: 5, Funny

    From the article:

    """
    Williams and the trackers used some clever tricks to lure the mystery apes.
    Pictures of the 'mystery ape' are rare because the animals are skittish and aggressive. Here a researcher captured an image from afar of one of the animals with her offspring.

    "One of my trackers made the sound of a duiker, a small antelope, as if it were in pain," said Williams. Four or five of the mystery primates fell for the ruse and came running to kill it.
    """

    I'd classify that as a stupid trick. Come on, sounding like something the animals want to kill doesn't seem clever at all methinks :).

    1. Re:_Clever_ tricks? by Queuetue · · Score: 4, Funny

      It's all relative. It's more clever than making a sound like an angry elephant or a machine gun.

  4. Obligatory reply by Eric+Ass+Raymond · · Score: 5, Funny

    I for one welcome our new ape masters.

  5. In Related News... by 1s44c · · Score: 3, Funny


    ...SCO have claimed the ape as their property and have started legal action against National Geographic for breaking the terms of their licence.

  6. Hot news by simgod · · Score: 5, Funny

    George Bush has been switched with an ape by a mistake during his recent trip to Africa explained the State Department today. They have all been wondering for some time why the president shaves every six hours.
    The "real president" was discovered by a CIA expedition which was able to locate the president by using an ultra-sensiteve sound recorder to match the sounds in the jungle with his distinctive sounds "terrorist, daddy, oil"

  7. Re:Yeti at home by jackb_guppy · · Score: 3, Funny

    I just do not get why the science community is so surprised...

    Do not the Bigfoot and Abominable Snowman Clans need time off for vacation from time to time.

  8. Re:good news for anthropologists by qwertyatwork · · Score: 3, Funny

    This can lead to only one thing...a race of super apes to enslave humanity. And I for one welcome our new ape overlords!

  9. Re:_Clever_ tricks? or Expendible trackers? by IDigUNIX · · Score: 5, Funny

    Take note how it says "One of my trackers made the sound". It makes no mention of how far away the researcher was. The natural scientific explaination is that the trackers are expendible and easily replaced.

    This hypothisis was demonstrated beatifully in the old "Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom" shows when I was a kid. The host would always be standing well out of range of the king cobra while saying "Now watch as my assistant charms the snake using body motions".

  10. Wrong Ape movie by AndroidCat · · Score: 3, Funny
    And the mystery apes hoot when the moon rises and sets, something chimps don't do for fear of attracting lions and hyenas, Williams said.
    Obviously these are apes like Moon-Watcher, but were in the john or something when the black monolith taught everyone to throw bones.
    --
    One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  11. Hybrid? by sin(theta) · · Score: 3, Funny

    Alright, who's been having sex with gorillas?

  12. Nah ... by zonix · · Score: 4, Funny

    Nah, that's just a Ferengi in the gorilla suit!

    z
    --
    What would an EWOULDBLOCK block, if an EWOULDBLOCK could block would? -- me
  13. Covering all your bases? by Tony+Hoyle · · Score: 3, Funny

    It has been hypothesized that the ape might be a new species, a subspecies, or perhaps a hybrid between two other species.

    About the only thing left out of that list is 'existing species'... if you add that then you can just rewrite:

    It has been hypothesized that the ape might be an ape :)

  14. Homer! by Drakker · · Score: 3, Funny

    First thing that got into my head was Homer running covered with mud. Homer Simpsons is the great Ape!

    It was in one of the first episodes, everyone must have seen it at least once. ;)