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Gorilla Youngsters Seen Dismantling Poachers’ Traps (2012)

news.nationalgeographic.com

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

#111

Post by lhotkins »

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…

“some people don't give animals enough credit (...) Animals are often very smart.” preach

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

#112

Post by hutzlibu »

remcob wrote: post #103
bredren wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This smartness and their very consciousness and ability to suffer is what makes industrialized meat production so ruthless.

I generally avoid meat for this and other reasons, but the Kea for sure don't seem to care about animal rights: > The video confirmed what many scientists had long suspected: that the kea uses its powerful, curved beak and claws to rip through the layer of wool and eat the fat from the back of the animal. Though the bird does not directly kill the sheep, death can result from infections or accidents suffered by anima…

Or cats playing with mice, or ants, crows or vultures eating sick animals alive, or seagulls biting bits off of whales ...

No, animals are not nice themself.

But if we claim, we are higher evolved, we can do different.

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

#113

Post by philwelch »

tapland wrote: post #105
disordinary wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apparently Eggs. Also the research shows that they enjoy the noise of setting off the trap. They also throw things off cliffs just to hear them hit the bottom. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/09/extraordi...

A lot of parrots seem to do this. A very simple game of action > weird reaction (fun sound). Parrots use their loose feathers as sticks, ripping them off and cleaning out the inside of their beaks.

Parrots are fucking smart, man. You have to be smart to do weird useless shit to amuse yourself.

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

#114

Post by someluccc »

wahern wrote: post #82
Eyes wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

In every species except man, the benefits of intelligence are largely limited to a single individual or a small family clan. Without widespread cooperative behavior there can be no evolutionary pressure to push intelligence to our heights. What use is it for a gorilla to read or have complex language if it can't be used to cooperate with a large number of other individuals? Unfortunately, both Darwinian genetics and…

How about religion? A perfect way to enforce/incentivize non-kin cooperation, instruct and transmit first principles across large groups and inter-generationally, organize and lead to cooperative behavior. Religion is the foundation of human civilization.

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

#115

Post by duncanawoods »

tapland wrote: post #105
disordinary wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apparently Eggs. Also the research shows that they enjoy the noise of setting off the trap. They also throw things off cliffs just to hear them hit the bottom. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/09/extraordi...

A lot of parrots seem to do this. A very simple game of action > weird reaction (fun sound). Parrots use their loose feathers as sticks, ripping them off and cleaning out the inside of their beaks.

Sounds like cat behaviour to instinctively sweep all the items of a table / shelf and watch with interest as they fall.

My theory is that it seems too hardwired to be a "fun game" and instead a selected trait because "things knocked off a great height become more edible" e.g. eggs etc.

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

#116

Post by Double_a_92 »

philwelch wrote: post #113
tapland wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot of parrots seem to do this. A very simple game of action > weird reaction (fun sound). Parrots use their loose feathers as sticks, ripping them off and cleaning out the inside of their beaks.

Parrots are fucking smart, man. You have to be smart to do weird useless shit to amuse yourself.

Man, have I got a video for you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uXiAe7Oc-I (It's a crow sledding)

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

#117

Post by michaelscott »

disordinary wrote: post #96
randomsearch wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you’re hiking in NZ, especially in alpine territory, watch out for Kea. They will figure out how to steal your food, even if it’s in the pocket of your bag!

And all alpine chalets and cabins in Kea habitated areas have warning signs about leaving windows open with pictures of the share devastation they cause when they get inside. Where I live we have Kaka which are related to Kea. All they do is tear trees to shreds.

This is a problem with baboons in chalet and cabin areas in the southern African bush as well. They're able to get into a window (if not locked) and devastate a cabin in their search for food, they're able to open chip and food packets, unscrew jar lids etc. In their case I think the opposable thumbs are what really come in handy.

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

#118

Post by disordinary »

ironic_ali wrote: post #110
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…

So, what you're saying is the Keas that stripped the rubber round my windscreen up at Mt Hutt, thought my car was a big metal trap with tasty goodies inside?

I think they just like to watch our reactions.

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

#120

Post by vertis »

disordinary wrote: post #96
randomsearch wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you’re hiking in NZ, especially in alpine territory, watch out for Kea. They will figure out how to steal your food, even if it’s in the pocket of your bag!

And all alpine chalets and cabins in Kea habitated areas have warning signs about leaving windows open with pictures of the share devastation they cause when they get inside. Where I live we have Kaka which are related to Kea. All they do is tear trees to shreds.

The Cockatoos and other parrots love to get in rooms at various resorts in Australia as well. We had them destroy a packet of chips and spread it around a room while staying on Hamilton Island.
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