Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Wild Gorillas Impress With Their Tools

Posted by Zonk on from the nice-wrench dept.

fatgav writes "The BBC is running an article about wild gorillas being seen to use tools in the wild. It is especially significant as not only have Gorillas never been seen to use tools, but they have been using them in a way unlike other great apes. From the article: 'The most astonishing thing is that we have observed them using tools not for obtaining food, but for postural support.' The scientists are getting excited as it can help to explain questions as to how the most advanced great ape (us) came to evolve."

14 of 276 comments (clear)

  1. But... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Are we any closer to explaining this:
    http://www.ntk.net/media/dancemonkeyboy.mpg.

    And yet they say "Intelligent Design" isn't a falsifiable theory...

    1. Re:But... by HermanAB · · Score: 4, Funny

      That video is different. It doesn't display any intelligence.

      --
      Oh well, what the hell...
    2. Re:But... by MarkRose · · Score: 5, Funny

      Well, some primates are definitely intelligent. After all, have you ever had this done to you at the zoo?

      --
      Be relentless!
  2. Let's just hope.. by yagu · · Score: 5, Funny

    Let's just hope they never evolve to the level where they take up arms and declare war against us. Our record in Gorilla warfare hasn't been so stellar.

  3. They don't impress me much... by The+Real+Nem · · Score: 5, Funny

    I thought Gorillas had relatively small "tools" compared to their human counterparts. Certainly nothing much to impress with.

  4. Wow by bahwi · · Score: 4, Funny

    Such the wrong impression from that title. My mind is way too low right now.

  5. I learn intellegent design from school. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    My teacher says it proves all answers are in the Bible and that science nowdays is work of the devil. If you believe in science you're a fool. I pray for your souls.

  6. No big deal by darklordyoda · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not a big deal, we already control the gorillas' habitats.

    Now when the dolphins grow opposable thumbs, then we're screwed.

  7. Gorillas Gone Wild by Zakabog · · Score: 4, Funny

    See these WILD gorillas use their tools in ways never seen before! Order now and get "Gorillas Gone Wild: Spring Break Edition." A new tape sent every month, cancel any time!

  8. Worst... Title... EVAR... +Some real facts by Dave21212 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wild Gorillas Impress With Their Tools... oh my, they do.

    (Seriously, this is from a real book)
    Excerpt From "Gorillas among Us: A Primate Ethnographer's Book of Days"

    "They mated and were done in about two minutes. I guess he thought they were finished and went back to eating his celery. All of their matings before had been brief, usually only one or two copulations. But she turned around and stared at him again, just like before. He tried to turn away, but she stayed inches away from his face. They ended up mating thirty-three times that day. It was so funny, because he kept that celery in his hand the whole time and never got a chance to eat it. At the end of the day he came inside and passed out with that sorry wilted stalk still clenched in his fist."
    --
    "Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech."--Benjamin Franklin
  9. Meta post... by ktakki · · Score: 4, Funny
    I predict that the comments to follow this story will consist of...

    • 54 comments about the double-entendre of the story's headline
    • 37 comments from people wondering where the gorillas got the credit card needed to order the Leatherman from thinkgeek.com
    • 15 "I, for one, welcome our tool-using gorilla overlords..."
    • 9 "In Soviet Uganda..."
    • 3 actually substantive comments about the use of tools among primates and other animals, such as chimps using sticks to probe anthills and termite mounds, seagulls dropping shellfish on beachside parking lots to break them open, dolphins using sea sponges to protect their snouts as they forage for food near stinging stonefish, and wood finches using twigs and cactus spines to pry insects out of tree trunks.


    k.
    --
    "In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart." - Anne Frank
  10. What a job... by SenseOfHumor · · Score: 4, Funny
    "We've been observing gorillas for 10 years here, and we have two cases of them using detached objects as tools,"...


    Where do I sign up for these jobs?
  11. of course by albeit+unknown · · Score: 4, Funny

    They use chairs as a tool. An alpha male will throw a chair at a beta male leaving for another tribe.

  12. Re:Worst... Title... EVAR... +Some real facts by bsartist · · Score: 4, Funny

    That last sentence... is he talking about the celery?

    --
    Lost: Sig, white with black letters. No collar. Reward if found!