POH PING ZHONG
Apr 14th, 2009

THE WAY TO GET MORE SEX IS THROUGH A LADY’S STOMACH

 

 

“Wild male chimps that share meat with females double their chances of having sex with those females, a new study says” nationalgeographic.com

www.flickr.com

 

“Steps to Win a Girl’s Heart:

-          Prove that you really love her

-          Most girls like guys with confidence and courage

-          Care for her    “ wikiHow.com

 

 

See any similarities?

This goes to show that guys engaging in courtship for sex is purely an evolutionary trait passed down from our ape ancestors. So don’t blame them for being sexually rather than emotionally driven when it comes to love, blame it on our genes.

On a more serious note, this article does provide insights into aspects of chimpanzee behavior, in particular, the idea that hunting has an additional sexual motivation.

Meat is not only nutritionally important as a protein source for chimps, it is socially important as well. Meat is highly prized in their diet, and most of the time the males do the hunting. Furthermore, the killer usually has full rights to the meat. In this way, being able to kill and share meat with a female gives an indication of social stature and ability in the male. Since the social structure of chimps is based on hierarchy, males with more meat to share are more dominant when it comes to matings.

However, a study conducted by Mitani and Watts (2001) on chimps at Ngogo in Kibale National Park does not support the hypothesis that male chimps hunt solely to obtain meat that they swap for matings. It shows that the presence of oestrous females did not predict the tendency for chimps to hunt. Although several factors are likely to affect chimpanzee hunting decisions and meat sharing, the results indicate that primary causes will not be found through invoking simple reproductive considerations.

 

Reference

John C. Mitani and David P. Watts (2001). “Why chimpanzees hunt and share meat?” Animal Behaviour 61 pp. 915-924.

LYDIA TAY EE PEI
Apr 13th, 2009

When I fall in love with Chimp-Pan-Kun (& his bulldog too)

Pan Kun is not an ordinary Chimpanzee. He was raised by a Japanese researcher as a Japanese boy and has undergone learning of human behaviour as he was brought up as if he was a boy and he probably thinks he is. This is commonly known as social imprinting, with the evident extreme expression of filial piety towards human.
He is often featured on the NTV television show "Tensai! Shimura Dōbutsuen" and the TBS program "Dōbutsu Kisō Tengai!" (Unbelievable Animals!). Most of the segments feature him and his bulldog friend, James, embarking on a variety of "human" tasks, like buying groceries, planting a rice paddy, or catching insects.

Pan Kun the young Chimp is always accompanied by James, his bulldog friend at all time. Some highlights of Pan Kun's human life activities include boarding a train and performancing sit up with his bulldog James.

The bond forged between Pan Kun and his owner is so strong that when he was forced to leave his owner when he was of age to leave for the zoo, the parting scene is a more of a tear jerker than any korean drama out there. In the last 2 videos, prepare a box if tissue paper or a towel if u want to be earth friendly for the tear jerker of the year with the last assignment of Pan Kun followed by the parting of Pan Kun with his owner.

Perhaps some of you have watched this before but for those who haven, do catch it. You wont regret it. This is love between human and chim, as well as love between a chimp and a monkey. While I am impressed at the human ability of Pan Kun, I am more moved by the relationship between Pan Kun and James as well as Pan Kun and his owner. If animals can have such strong emotions, why cant some humans learn to love too.

Academic Source:
Imprinting: Early Experience and the Development Psychology of Attachment
By Eckhard H.Hess. New York: Van Hostrand, Reinhold, 1973

EILEEN CHENG KAI WEN
Apr 12th, 2009

Termite fishing, the new found hobby of Chimps

Termites gathered at the end of the brush tipped fishing rod

Termites gathered at the end of the brush tipped fishing rod
               
             
             Fishing has always been an age old interest among man; however, this timeless hobby has found its way to even our closest ape relative, the chimpanzees. Then again, the chimpanzees are perhaps not too into fishing by the river, rather they are found to be using uniquely crafted brush tipped “fishing rods” to dig for inserts, especially the termites, out of their nest. With this discovery, scientists believed that they had finally unraveled the mystery behind the chimpanzees’ talent at termite catching.

 

A, Adult male using a puncturing stick at a subterranean termite nest. In the cross section, the termite nest chamber and associated

A, Adult male using a puncturing stick at a subterranean termite nest.

B, Adult female using a perforating twig to open termite exit holes on the surface of an epigeal termite nest. She holds a brush-tip fishing probe in her mouth.

 

                      The sheer intelligence and learning abilities of these apes has never failed to surprise us each time. With this new discovery, it can even be concluded that the crafting of tools to aid the chimpanzees in reaching food resources is most definitely not by chance or circumstances. As stated in the article, “We found that in the Goualougo Triangle in the Republic of Congo, the chimpanzees were modifying their termite-fishing tools with a special brush tip.” From this we can also infer that this behavior was in fact a learnt skill.

            Then again, this termite fishing behavior was only found in the chimpanzees in the Goualougo Triangle. Thereby, the absence of such unique ‘engineering’ skills amongst the Chimpanzees in eastern and western Africa enables us to understand that this is definitely not an instinctive skill found in all chimpanzees. Hence such behavior leads us to the conclusion that the Goualougo primates are learning the crafting technique from other chimps instead.

 

               With that, this puts us into thinking if Chimpanzees of other unstudied areas are coming out with more complex tools yet to be discovered. Also, questions regarding the first development of these skills are some aspects for us to ponder upon. Hence, to find out more about what goes on in the minds of our closest ape cousins, and the many other abilities they are capable of, do read on from the link below to find out more.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7922120.stm

 

To see a video on how termite fishing is done, click on the URL below

 http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/action/showFullPopup?doi=10.1086%2F424803&id=fg6 

http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/news-chimps-invent-brush-tool.html

 

 

References:

Rebecca Morelle, 2009, Chimps craft ultimate fishing rod, retrieved 8th Apr 2009 from BBC Science/Nature, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7922120.stm

Crickette Sanz, Dave Morgan, and Steve Gulick, the American naturalist (2004), vol. 164, no. 5, New Insights into Chimpanzees, Tools, and Termites from the Congo Basin,

Jorge Ribas, 2009, Discovery Channel Videos: News: Chimps Invent Brush Tool, retrieved 11th Apr 2009 from discovery channel, http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/news-chimps-invent-brush-tool.html

 

 

 

HUANG WAN TING
Apr 10th, 2009

How to win a girl’s heart – Chimpanzee style

Male chimp offering his catch

Male chimp offering his catch

Photograph by Cristina M. Gome

Amongst chimpanzees, mating behavior is largely based on female choice. A recent study on some Chimps in Ivory Coast have shed light on one of the techniques that male chimpanzees have up their sleeves, metaphorically speaking.

Male chimpanzees have been seen sharing meat with female chimpanzees, and this increases the likelihood of females mating with them. The study has shown that female chimpanzees were more likely to mate with the males who shared their meat with them than those who did not. Such behaviour has not only been observed occurring between males and estrous females, but also between males and female chimpanzees which were not in heat. By doing so, it is evident that the meat-for-sex trade is not an immediate exchange. This is an indicator that male chimpanzees possess the cognitive ability to plan ahead, and is capable of “investing” in their future.

“This is a long-term exchange, so males continue to share their catch with females when they are not fertile, copulating with them when they are.” (BBC News)

Such a phenomenon leads one to ponder just exactly why humans think we are the superior ones, when animals, like these chimpanzees appear to be rather capable of successfully winning over a girl’s heart as well. Perhaps men should take lessons from these chimps – and consider the benefits of planning ahead.

References:

Gill, V. (2009, April 7). BBC News | Science & Environment | Chimpanzees exchange meat for sex. Retrieved April 10, 2009, from BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7988169.stm

Gomes, C. M., & Boesch, C. (2009). Wild Chimpanzees Exchange Meat for Sex on a Long-Term Basis. PLoS ONE . http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0005116