Monkeys In The News

Chimp’s photos of Moscow could earn serious cash at Sotheby’s auction

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:07:00 +0000

The monkey — once a popular performer at the Moscow Circus — was taught by contemporary artists Vitaly Komar and Alexander Melamid how to snap his first Polaroid when he was 15.

He eventually graduated to a regular camera, and then, an antique.

A collection of the chimp’s pics — dubbed “Our Moscow Through The Eyes Of Mikki” — present a “new perspective,” according to Sotheby’s.

The shots are “akin to experimental photography and reference millions of photos taken by tourists on a daily basis,” Sotheby’s said.

Full story here.
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Oldest Evidence of Split Between Old World Monkeys and Apes Discovered

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:05:00 +0000

The oldest ape and Old World monkey fossils have been unearthed in a riverbed in Tanzania, a new study reports.

Researchers found a tooth from the newfound species Nsungwepithecus gunnelli, the oldest member of the primate group that contains Old World monkeys (cercopithecoids). The team also found a jawbone from the newfound species Rukwapithecus fleaglei, an early member of the hominoids, the group containing the great apes (gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans and humans) and lesser apes (gibbons).

Full story here.
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Bear Mauls Monkey In Bicycle Race At Shanghai Wild Animal Park

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:58:00 +0000

Full story here.
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Goosing A Gorilla

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:28:00 +0000

From here.
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Research Team Restores Monkey's Hand Function With Artificial Neural Connection

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:32:00 +0000

Scientists working together from Japanese and American universities may have made a pretty large leap in restoring neural function for those with non-paralyzing spinal cord injuries. The researchers applied a "novel artificial neuron connection" over lesions in the spinal cord of a partially paralyzed monkey, partially restoring its arm / brain circuit and allowing greater hand control purely by brainpower.

Full story here.
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Researchers: Monkey Lip-Smacking Resembles Human Speech

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:19:00 +0000

Thore Bergman, a researcher at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, has discovered that monkey lip-smacking resembles human speech.

According to National Geographic, gelada monkeys reside in the high mountain meadows of Ethiopa, where they have adapted to living on steep, rocky cliffs. The 100,000 to 200,000 surviving geladas are also the last remaining species of ancient grazing primates. The rare monkeys have fatty rear ends which allow them to sit and eat grass for long periods of time.

A news release from Cell Press notes that the gelada is the only nonhuman primate that communicates with a “speech-like, undulating rhythm.” According to Bergman, the sounds that other monkeys and apes make are usually one or two syllables. The gelada’s lip-smacking vocalizations also lack quick changes in pitch and volume.

According to Bergman, the lip-smacking behavior, which is shown during friendly interactions with other geladas, could have been an evolutionary step toward human speech.

Full story here.
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Alcohol Consumption Traced To Ape Ancestor

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:35:00 +0000

The taste for alcohol may be an ancient craving. The ability to metabolize ethanol — the alcohol in beer, wine and spirits — might have originated in the common ancestor of chimpanzees, gorillas and humans roughly 10 million years ago, perhaps when this ancestor became more terrestrial and started eating fruits fermenting on the ground.

Chemist Steven Benner of the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution in Gainesville, Fla., reached that conclusion by “resurrecting” the alcohol-metabolizing enzymes of extinct primates. Benner and his colleagues estimated the enzymes’ genetic code, built the enzymes in the lab and then analyzed how they work to understand how they changed over time.

Full story here.
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Speculation Over Iran's Monkey Launch As A Fake

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 17:04:00 +0000

...a series of photographs that show differences in the monkey's appearance, before and after the launch, appear to show two different monkeys.

Before the launch, several state-controlled media branches posted photographs of the monkey with a distinctive red mole above its right eye. It also had light fur round its head.

Upon the monkey's "return" from space, the mole had vanished, as had the fur.

The photographs have led to speculation that either they launched the capsule into space, but it never returned, or that the launch never took place.

The US state department at the time expressed doubts about whether it had ever happened.

Iranian state television showed still pictures of the capsule and of a monkey being fitted with a vest and then placed in a device similar to a child's car-seat.

Full story here.
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Monkeys Attack 7 People In East Indonesian Village

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 04:31:00 +0000

A mob of wild monkeys has gone on a rampage in a village in eastern Indonesia, entering houses and attacking residents. Seven people were injured, including one who is in critical condition.

Ambo Ella, a spokesman for Sidendeng Rappang District in South Sulawesi province, says the surprise attack by about 10 monkeys happened in Toddang Pulu village.

He said Wednesday that a 16-year-old boy was badly bitten in the attack Monday and is being treated at the hospital

He believes the troop came from a nearby forest protected by a local tribe. It's unclear why the monkeys, which are usually afraid of humans and flee when they hear human voices, emerged and attacked.

Local authorities are investigating to find out what prompted the attack, which caused panic among villagers.

Full story here.
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Iran Launches Monkey Into Space

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:02:00 +0000

Iran joined the international dash for space in earnest on Monday when it claimed to have a successfully launched a live monkey into space in an Iranian-built space capsule.

Iranian media reported on Monday that the country's space agency had sent the creature 75 miles (120 km) above the Earth in a Kavoshgar rocket capsule named Pishgam (Pioneer). Though the report has yet to be independently verified, officials said the capsule had returned intact and the monkey was still alive after its sub-orbital experience.

"The explorer rocket … returned to the Earth after reaching the desired speed and altitude, and the living creature (a monkey) was retrieved and found alive," the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

Full story here.
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Chimp Gets Blanket And Hot Tea In Welsh Sanctuary

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 14:31:00 +0000

It was blankets and hot tea for these chimps at a sanctuary in Wales. Their roots are in the tropical rainforests of Africa.

That means the freezing UK weather is a challenge for them. And one of the apes won't even venture outdoors without her blanket. Jan Garen, zookeeper, told Reuters this about the chimp, "she lived in a house for about 29 years when she was a youngster, so it's just what she's been used to. And she enjoys having a blanket; it doesn't do her any harm so if she wants one to keep warm she can have one."

And while she shivers, her mates seem happy to make the most of the snow.

Full story here.
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Chimp With TV Remote Chooses Porn Channels

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:38:00 +0000

A chimp named Gina became addicted to porn after a television set and a remote control were placed inside her enclosure at a zoo in Spain.

Primatologist Pablo Herreros recently told a Spanish newspaper that he made the discovery years ago while touring different zoos. According to the New York Daily News, the television was placed inside the enclosure to help stimulate the primates both physically and psychologically.

Herreros explained that primates are often given toys, objects, and various stimuli as a kind of “occupational therapy.” In order to keep a chimp named Gina content, zookeepers decided to install a television behind a glass barrier. The chimp was also given a remote control so she should control what she wanted to see.

According to news.co.au, Gina’s handlers were happy that she didn’t immediately try to smash the television. They were even more delighted when they discovered the chimp has learned to use the remote control within a relatively short amount of time.

However, the real shocker arrived when zookeepers discovered that the chimp had become addicted to watching porn. Instead of nature shows, cartoons, or cheesy action flicks, Gina had decided pornography was her entertainment of choice.

Herreros explained to the newspaper:

“The surprise was when they found that within a few days, Gina was not only using the remote control perfectly well, but that she also used to choose the porn channel for entertainment, as many of us would have done. Although a small study estimated that porn films are only watched for about 12 minutes on average, the truth is that human and non-human primates possess an intense sexual life.”

Full story here.
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Monkey Crashes U.S. Embassy In Sri Lanka

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 23:06:00 +0000

The embassy invasion began on Dec. 20, when an an e-mail went out to employees of the facility in Colombo notifying them that the ground floor doors were locked because a monkey was trapped in the building and instructing them to use alternate exits. “A little bit different than a Kabul ‘lock down!’” observed one worker there whose previous tours of duty were perhaps a bit more dangerous.

We’re unclear exactly what kind of monkey it was, but speculation was that it was a toque macaque, a medium-sized specimen common in Sri Lanka — generally harmless to humans, and, with a swirl of hair not dissimilar to Donald Trump’s,pretty adorable.

There was apparently trouble when removing the visitor, since a plea soon went out for anyone with experience with wild animals (who says our diplomatic corps isn’t a talented bunch?) to help out. The day ended with the monkey business still at hand.

Day Two of the siege ended happily, with the little fella (or perhaps it was a lady monkey, we’re not sure) ultimately vaulting the embassy wall, urged on with bananas and encouraging shouts from burly Marines and a group of off-duty drivers on the scene.

Full story here.
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Daredevil Gorilla Walks Across Tightrope

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 18:22:00 +0000

The 12-year-old silverback moved to Germany from Denmark's Givskud Zoo at the end of March. He was acquired by the German zoo after the previous male gorilla Massa proved to be infertile.

Kidogo, a western lowland gorilla nicknamed 'King Kodo' by his keepers, shares his gorilla garden with females Muna, 23 and Oya, 24. Roughly translated from Swahili, his name means "small".

After he initially suffered extreme homesickness, he has now discovered he is somewhat of an artiste.

This year, Krefeld zoo celebrates its 75 anniversary. A tightrope-walking gorilla would likely be a highlight of any zoo.

Full story here.
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Happy Monkey Day 2012!

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 05:30:00 +0000

Happy Monkey Day! Finally, the yearlong wait is over and once again, here are your top 10 Monkey and Primate News highlights from 2012 to help you celebrate Monkey Day!

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10. FaceTime For Apes: Orangutans Use iPads To Video Chat

Slutty ape ipad pictures incoming...

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9. Kanzi The Chimpanzee Can Start A Fire, Cook His Own Food

Well, Kanzi's doing better than about 90% of any of the contestants on Survivor. At least Kanzi is being taught responsible Marshmallow eating practices.

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8. Michael Jackson's Chimp Paints $1,500 Abstracts

I'm sure Joe Jackson is kicking himself for letting Bubbles slip away.

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7. 'Chimera' Monkeys Created In Lab by Combining Several Embryos Into One

Roku and Hex from OHSU News on Vimeo.

This is bound to bring a whole new dimension to the Jerry Springer show in about twenty years.

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6. Baboons Recognize Real Words from Gibberish

Currently on hire for Nick Nolte translation work.

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5. Lab Tech Found Drunk, Partially Nude, With Monkeys On The Loose

"What? What?!? Like I need to wear pants when entering data? Oh, what? Those monkeys? Yeah they are just there for motivational support."

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4. Zoo Gives Aging Gorilla A Bunny Companion

Awwww....

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3. Conan Overcomes 2nd Vasectomy To Become Father For The Third Time

You just can't keep a good chimp down. Conan! What is best in life?

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2. Wife Breastfeeds Monkeys To Help Husband's Animal Training

I wish my wife had this kind of dedication to my trade. Alas, my organic alligator farm residents go to sleep hungry every night.

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1. Monkey Found Alone At Toronto Ikea, Wearing Coat

When Yasmin Nakhuda suited Darwin up in his winter coat and put him in the car for a little trip to Ikea, she had no idea he was about to be the biggest internet sensation since that ridiculously photogenic guy. When Darwin was left alone in the car, he decided to venture out on his own and was immediately plastered all over Twitter and Facebook by stunned shoppers (Also seized by Animal Control since owning a monkey is illegal in Toronto). Here are a few of our favorite memes that have come from this so far:

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Another Monkey Day is here and you are not sure what to do with your self? Well, how about socializing with some like-minded monkey lovers over at Reddit or Facebook!

Or, how about lifting your spirits and gaining some karma by doing something charitable and donating to some primate sanctuaries in need? Here is an alphabetical list of sanctuaries that are always looking for willing donors, please help them however you can:

Happy Monkey Day everybody!

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New Species Of Slow Loris Recognized

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:42:00 +0000

An international team of scientists studying the elusive nocturnal primate the slow loris in the jungles of Borneo have discovered an entirely new species. The team's analysis of the primate's distinctive facial fur markings, published in the American Journal of Primatology, reveals the existence of one entirely new species, while two of species, previously considered as possible sub-species, are being officially recognized as unique.

"Technological advances have improved our knowledge about the diversity of several nocturnal mammals," said Rachel Munds from the University of Missouri Columbia. "Historically many species went unrecognized as they were falsely lumped together as one species. While the number of recognized primate species has doubled in the past 25 years some nocturnal species remain hidden to science."

Full story here.
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Monkey Found Alone At Toronto Ikea, Wearing Coat

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 00:08:00 +0000

Animal control came to collect a monkey from a Toronto Ikea store on Sunday, after the animal was spotted in the parking lot.

An Ikea spokesperson told CBC News that the monkey was first spotted in the parking lot of the Ikea store located near Leslie Street and Highway 401.

Staff at the store quickly contacted animal control, and the monkey was kept confined until animal services arrived.

Toronto Police Sgt. Ed Dzingala told CBC News that the owners, who were shopping in the store at the time, have come forward to claim the monkey.

Full story here.
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Michael Jackson's Chimp Paints $1,500 Abstracts

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:05:00 +0000

Among the boldface names you won't be expecting to find exhibiting at Art Basel Miami Beach is Bubbles, Michael Jackson's erstwhile chimpanzee companion.

His paintings — two moody abstracts each priced at $1,500 — feature in "Endangered," a fundraiser in aid of the Center for Great Apes, the sanctuary where he's lived for eight years.

Full story here.
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Wife Breastfeeds Monkeys To Help Husband's Animal Training

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 02:12:00 +0000

A Chinese woman has revealed she breastfeeds her student monkeys to keep them happy.

Jiao Xinzhen believes it is the key to the success of her husband Huang Aiqing’s monkey-training school in Central China.

Speaking about her bizarre methods, the 27-year-old said: “Many times, some of the baby monkeys slip onto our bed at night to suck my breasts.”

She added: “I feel like they are just like my children.”

The couple love their chimpan-ions so much they have even adopted a monkey as a second child and a playmate for their human son.

Full story here.
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Conan Overcomes 2nd Vasectomy To Become Father For The Third Time

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:42:00 +0000

The latest paternity test at the national sanctuary for retired research chimpanzees confirms that Conan has overcome two vasectomies to father three daughters.

Chimp Haven announced the results Monday.

All three babies were surprises. Every male chimp must get a vasectomy before coming to the northwest Louisiana sanctuary near Keithville. After Conan fathered a baby in 2007, his tubes were clipped again.

Then a Valentine’s Day baby turned out to be his, and every male chimp still interested in and living with females got a more complicated vasectomy. The females all were put on birth control, just to be sure.

“As a sanctuary for chimpanzees in need, it is not the mission of Chimp Haven to create more chimpanzees,” said president and director Linda Brent. “We take our responsibility to prevent pregnancies very seriously, but sometimes life finds a way.”

Full story here.
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20-Year-Old Video Of Toddler Playing With Gorillas Causes Controversy

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:39:00 +0000

A gorilla picks up a tiny toddler and carries her around like a doll in a video that just hit the web.

British conservation activist Damian Aspinall shot the video 22 years ago at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent, but hasn’t made it public it until now.

He feared a backlash because the little girl seen playing with the 300-pound primate is his daughter Tansy — who was just 18 months old at the time.

He said he released the video to show how gentle gorillas actually are...

Full story here.
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New African Monkey Species Identified

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 21:34:00 +0000

Researchers have identified a new species of African monkey, locally known as the lesula, described in the Sep. 12 issue of the open access journal PLOS ONE. This is only the second new species of African monkey discovered in the last 28 years.

The first lesula found was a young captive animal seen in 2007 in a school director's compound in the town of Opala in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The young monkey bore a resemblance to the owl faced monkey, but its coloration was unlike that of any other known species.

Over the following three years, the study authors located additional lesula in the wild, determined its genetic and anatomical distinctiveness, and made initial observations of its behavior and ecology, as reported in the PLOS ONE paper.

The new species' range covers about 6,500 square miles in central DRC, in what was one of Congo's last biologically unexplored forest blocks. Although its range is remote and only lightly settled at present, the lesula is threatened by local bush meat hunting.

Full story here.
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Smuggler Caught In India With Monkey In Pants

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 23:01:00 +0000

Customs authorities in India have arrested a man who was attempting to board a flight at New Delhi's international airport with a monkey in his underwear, a report said on Monday.

The man, who was detained along with two other travelers, had arrived from Bangkok and was about to take a connecting flight to Dubai on Jet Airways, the Press Trust of India reported.

Personnel at the airport found the seven-inch loris, a type of monkey native to India and southeast Asia, "in one of the passenger’s underwear during the security check," PTI said.

Another loris was discovered in a dustbin at the Indira Gandhi International airport.

"They had abandoned him as they were unable to carry him," a senior security official told the news agency.

The passengers, named as Hamad Al-Dhaheri, Mohammed Al-Shamsi and Rashid Al-Shamsi, were handed over to Wildlife and Customs Department for further questioning and were later arrested by customs police.

Authorities were trying to determine the exact origin of the monkeys.

Full story here.
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Lab Tech Found Drunk, Partially Nude, With Monkeys On The Loose

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:57:00 +0000

A Georgia Health Sciences University lab tech was jailed this week after he was found intoxicated with his pants down in a campus locker room, a GHSU spokeswoman said Friday. Two lab monkeys were found outside their cages, authorities said.

According to a GHSU Police Bureau incident report, a co-worker discovered Coley Mitchell, 32, partially unclothed in a locker room in the Sanders Research and Education Building about 10:30 p.m. Monday.

Campus police said Mitchell, a Lab Animal Services technician, was intoxicated and seated in a chair with his pants half-down.

The spokeswoman said two monkeys were found outside their cages in the lab but were confined to the room.

From Eric Millikin via the Augusta Chronicle.
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Separated Gorilla Brothers Reunite After Three Years With A Hug

noreply@blogger.com (C.) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 19:28:00 +0000

Officials at a British zoo said a pair of gorilla brothers separated for three years greeted each other with a big hug.

Zookeepers at the Longleat Safari park in Wiltshire, England, said Kesho, 13, has grown into a full-sized adult silverback gorilla since the last time he saw his brother, Alf, 9, but the two primates literally greeted one another with open arms -- hugging, shaking hands and slapping one another on the back -- when they were recently reunited at the zoo, The Daily Telegraph reported Thursday.

Full story here. More photos here.
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