Many zoo visitors have witnessed chimpanzees throwing, uh, stuff, in the direction of people, but a particular chimp in Sweden has the scientific community abuzz because a study released Monday shows that primates possess the ability to plot and execute plans.

The report, in the journal Current Biology, cites the actions of Santino in the Furuvik Zoo near Stockholm. The 31-year-old alpha male was observed beginning preparations before the zoo opened. It collected rocks and other debris and stored the cache in a strategic location until midday, then opened fire on visitors beyond a moat.

"These observations convincingly show that our fellow apes do consider the future in a very complex way," the report's author, Lund University doctoral student Mathias Osvath, told the Associated Press. "It implies that they have a highly developed consciousness, including lifelike mental simulations of potential events."

Not stated but implied: Santino the chimp will not be landing a major-league pitching contract anytime soon. He rarely hit any of his targets and did not seriously injure a single one.

But seriously, if all chimps are able to plot like this, who knows what havoc they might wreak against mankind?

Scientists remain unsure all primates are that smart, however. Joseph Call, author of a 2006 study involving orangutans and bonobos, said of Santino: "It could be that he is a genius, only more research will tell."

http://latimesblogs.latimes.co...many-zoo-visito.html

The chimps sure know who the destroyer is.

This is from the BBC

Zoo chimp 'planned' stone attacks

Chimpanzees have long been suspected of planning ahead
A male chimpanzee in a Swedish zoo planned hundreds of stone-throwing attacks on zoo visitors, according to researchers.

Keepers at Furuvik Zoo found that the chimp collected and stored stones that he would later use as missiles.

Further, the chimp learned to recognise how and when parts of his concrete enclosure could be pulled apart to fashion further projectiles.

The findings are reported in the journal Current Biology.

There has been scant evidence in previous research that animals can plan for future events.

Crucial to the current study is the fact that Santino, a chimpanzee at the zoo in the city north of Stockholm, collected the stones in a calm state, prior to the zoo opening in the morning.

The launching of the stones occurred hours later - during dominance displays to zoo visitors - with Santino in an "agitated" state.

This suggests that Santino was anticipating a future mental state - an ability that has been difficult to definitively prove in animals, according to Mathias Osvath, a cognitive scientist from Lund University in Sweden and author of the new research.

"We've done experimental studies, and the chimps in my mind show very clearly that they do plan for future needs, but it has been argued that perhaps this was an experimental artefact," Dr Osvath told BBC News. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME


More from Today programme

"Now we have this spontaneous behaviour, which is always in some sense better evidence."
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How would you like to be in a cage, being constantly stared at, with no privacy at all?

Chimps know who the enemy is. It is all the humans' fault that they plan ahead how to attack us.

I say, "Good for Santino."
Let him loose, and allow him to live in nature, except, we are even taking that away.

It is quite amazing that Santino planned ahead, collected the rocks, and then hurled them at what he thought was the enemy.

I don't like the idea of animals kept in zoos. They have the right to enjoy a natural habitat as much as humans. Who gave us the right to rule over the other species on the earth?

Gisele

Hunanaught

quote:

Alright, so Chinese people want to stare at us laowai. It’s time we quit complaining and start cashing in. The “like a monkey in a zoo” thing is something I got chatting with a friend about once and he had the wonderful suggestion that I might just bank on.

quote:

Originally posted by dear Gisele:
I don't like the idea of animals kept in zoos. They have the right to enjoy a natural habitat as much as humans. Who gave us the right to rule over the other species on the earth?

Gisele

Amen and AWOMEN!!!

The old TV Show "Lost In Space" used to have many episodes where the humans were put in a zoo!


Danger! Will Robinson!


the bad guy!

As you said dearestestest Inda... "How would you like to be in a cage, being constantly stared at, with no privacy at all?"



I can't even include the following image, click if you have the stomach..

http://www.sangrea.net/free-ca.../alien_human_zoo.jpg

Thank you Inda, Gisele and Teo.

If I had to be sitting in a cage, or limited to my surroundings in a zoo I might start collecting rocks as well.

Love,
Sue

Thank you for posting Sue.

I read this information in the newspaper.

I have to agree with everyone here that the animal was tired of the lack of privacy. Santino wanted to get rid of the people who caused him endless aggrevation. I also do not really like animals kept in a zoo; it is not really the same as an animal retreat or sanctuary, where they can roam around freely in the wild, without being bothered by people.

Love,
yoko

Thank you yoko.

Lets rock with the chimp.

Thank you for the post Sue.

I cannot blame the chimp at all.

Love,
Vicky