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Gorilla Youngsters Seen Dismantling Poachers’ Traps (2012)

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51–60 of 152 posts

Re: Gorilla Youngsters Seen Dismantling Poachers’ Traps (2012)

#51
post #17

> "No we can't teach them," she said. "We try as much as we can to not interfere with the gorillas. We don't want to affect their natural behavior." Tsk. Like the Prime Directive but in the real world. Well, isn't it the natural behaviour of gorillas to learn? If they can learn by observing humans, without the humans specifically intending it, then what's so different, or unethical, if it's done with intent? I think…

I feel that if any human was found to be teaching gorillas how to do human things, they would ultimately suffer punishment like Prometheus who taught humans how to use the fire of the gods.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koko_(gorilla):

”Hanabiko "Koko" (July 4, 1971 – June 19, 2018) was a female western lowland gorilla known for having learned a large number of hand signs from a modified version of American Sign Language (ASL)”

Wikipedia thinks Koko’s teacher still is alive (aged 72), so punishment certainly wasn’t swift.

Re: Gorilla Youngsters Seen Dismantling Poachers’ Traps (2012)

#52
post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm no wild animal training expert, but surely there's a risk training gorillas could backfire? humans training gorillas leads to gorillas being more trusting and less suspecting of humans, including poachers, or some other unintended consequences.

Or it triggers a cascading increase in intelligence, and they end up taking up arms and conquering us.

https://www.theonion.com/dolphins-evolve-opposable-thumbs-18...

Re: Gorilla Youngsters Seen Dismantling Poachers’ Traps (2012)

#53
post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or it triggers a cascading increase in intelligence, and they end up taking up arms and conquering us.

That's not how intelligence and evolution works.

That is how a joke works however

Re: Gorilla Youngsters Seen Dismantling Poachers’ Traps (2012)

#54
post #20
post #13

I wonder if we should show them how to write software?

Not software probably, but could be a plan B for Uber's "driverless" cars.

Gorillas are way too big for that. They would require larger, more expensive cars and more food than, for example, Bonobos.

You could also try to use pigeons (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Pigeon)

Re: Gorilla Youngsters Seen Dismantling Poachers’ Traps (2012)

#58
post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm no wild animal training expert, but surely there's a risk training gorillas could backfire? humans training gorillas leads to gorillas being more trusting and less suspecting of humans, including poachers, or some other unintended consequences.

Or it triggers a cascading increase in intelligence, and they end up taking up arms and conquering us.

[deleted]

Re: Gorilla Youngsters Seen Dismantling Poachers’ Traps (2012)

#60
post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm no wild animal training expert, but surely there's a risk training gorillas could backfire? humans training gorillas leads to gorillas being more trusting and less suspecting of humans, including poachers, or some other unintended consequences.

Or it triggers a cascading increase in intelligence, and they end up taking up arms and conquering us.

I don't know about conquering us, but gorilla warfare is a distinct possibility.
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