This is amazing!
It's about gorillas in a zoo and when one of them dies, they all file in one by one to inspect the body and seemingly pay respects. It had been recorded before in the wild and at one other zoo. Hopefully, the days where we see animals as non thinking and feeling on deep levels will soon be over.
I also am very glad that gorillas and other highly evolved animals are being given credit for their ability to think and feel. Everyone has heard of Alex the African Gray Parrot, and Koko the gorilla who signs 1000 words, and knows roughly 2000 English words too. (by unscientific report). Then there's Chantek, the orangutan, and Kanzi the chimp. These are but a few of the animals who have had extensive training. Lately, gorillas have been observed destroying snares, as can chimps, and using tools to measure the depth of a watery swamp. A 2 1/2 yr old gorilla orphan youngster used an anvil and rock to crush nuts - who taught her? Elephants have long been recognised as being very intelligent. They are now seemingly at the end of their collective rope in India. They are killing humans with no provocation. And look at crows, who will fashion tools more complicated that those of an ape. I think we should redefine "human" and begin to think of giving sime of these creatures "personhood", which will preserve their rights to be unharmed.
Posted by: Lorraine at November 8, 2005 08:54 AMAmen sister.
Posted by: rebecca at November 8, 2005 06:06 PM