Sunday, February 25, 2007

On Apes and Tools


We like to think humans are pretty special and that we're different from all of the other animals. We've come up with all sorts of reasons. Humans can recognize themselves. Humans can use tools. Humans can do abstract thought. Ironically, one by one, we are discovering animals doing each of the things that we thought unique to mankind. This young gorilla was throwing branches into the tree to knock off leaves which he would then eat, once they fell to the ground. His brother, nearby, grabbed a big, solid turd and tossed it a good 15 feet. Luckily, he was not apparently aiming for the audience which, as thickly crowded as it was, would have been an easy target. Of course, if he did, perhaps it would have proved a point about being locked in an enclosure and put on display.

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