Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Gorilla Youngsters Seen Dismantling Poachers’ Traps (2012)

news.nationalgeographic.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

71–80 of 152 posts

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

#71

Post by sjg007 »

NicoJuicy wrote: post #50
tsumnia wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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 this might interfere with some research involving the gorillas. You cannot study their natural behaviors if you are assisting them. Not to say there isn't research teams looking to train gorillas, my point is that may not be THEIR focus. While they cannot con…

Add giving them goggles for when they don't see well. Ear devices for when they don't hear well. A wheelchair for when they can't walk. I'm afraid when Darwin passes by ( other group of gorillas) and the word of the strongest will be law. ( Just thinking out loud, with controversy :) )

Technology assures long term survival and it is in a species best interest to develop them. That is apparent. Now the question is how do you nurture technological development?

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

#72

Post by fwip »

NicoJuicy wrote: post #50
tsumnia wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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 this might interfere with some research involving the gorillas. You cannot study their natural behaviors if you are assisting them. Not to say there isn't research teams looking to train gorillas, my point is that may not be THEIR focus. While they cannot con…

Add giving them goggles for when they don't see well. Ear devices for when they don't hear well. A wheelchair for when they can't walk. I'm afraid when Darwin passes by ( other group of gorillas) and the word of the strongest will be law. ( Just thinking out loud, with controversy :) )

Congratulations, you've reinvented eugenics.

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

#73

Post by disordinary »

In Aotearoa-New Zealand we set traps for introduced species like stoats, rats, possums, etc. that kill our endangered wildlife that evolved without natural predators.

The Kea which are very smart mountain parrots will go and disarm the traps in order to eat the bait. They're smart enough to have figured out how to do this, and are one of just a handful of animals that habitually use tools, but are unfortunately too smart for their own good because their handiwork means there's more predators for them.

But, some people don't give animals enough credit. Mammals and especially primates are very, very close to Humans genetically. Animals are often very smart.

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

#75

Post by nkrisc »

YeGoblynQueenne wrote: post #12

> "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…

It's always strange to me when people seem to think humans and the things we do and make aren't "natural." We evolved naturally on the this planet like all other life here did, what we do is natural.

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

#76

Post by cik2e »

joejerryronnie wrote: post #47
gridlockd wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I think this might interfere with some research involving the gorillas. You cannot study their natural behaviors if you are assisting them. I think this is a very poor argument. First of all, conservation trumps research. Secondly, their environment already isn't "natural" when it has got snare traps in it. > If, say, a diseased food source begins to decimate the group that could be prevented through cooking, shoul…

Teaching gorillas how to make fire - what could possibly go wrong ;-)

Spit roasted poachers?

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

#78

Post by xu_ituairo »

disordinary wrote: post #73

In Aotearoa-New Zealand we set traps for introduced species like stoats, rats, possums, etc. that kill our endangered wildlife that evolved without natural predators. The Kea which are very smart mountain parrots will go and disarm the traps in order to eat the bait. They're smart enough to have figured out how to do this, and are one of just a handful of animals that habitually use tools, but are unfortunately too s…

How does their handiwork make them targets?

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

#80

Post by disordinary »

xu_ituairo wrote: post #78
disordinary wrote: post #73

In Aotearoa-New Zealand we set traps for introduced species like stoats, rats, possums, etc. that kill our endangered wildlife that evolved without natural predators. The Kea which are very smart mountain parrots will go and disarm the traps in order to eat the bait. They're smart enough to have figured out how to do this, and are one of just a handful of animals that habitually use tools, but are unfortunately too s…

How does their handiwork make them targets?

The traps are there to kill the introduced predators that hunt the Kea, their eggs, and chicks.

By disarming the traps there are more predators to hunt them.

Post reply on HN