Toronto Zoo Urges Visitors To Stop Showing Cellphone Videos To Gorillas (thestar.com) 62
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Toronto Star: Nassir the gorilla, languid in the heat of a summer afternoon, sits just within reach of a faded sign taped to the glass of his enclosure at the Toronto Zoo, advising visitors not to share images on their cellphones with the swinging bachelor. "We've had a lot of members and guests that actually will put their phones up to the glass and show him videos," says Maria Franke, the zoo's director of wildlife conservation and welfare. "And Nassir is so into those videos. It was causing him to be distracted and not interacting with the other gorillas, and you know, being a gorilla. He was just so enthralled with gadgets and phones and the videos."
Gorillas, it seems, share more than just 98 per cent of our DNA. Zookeepers have discovered they can become every bit as interested in cellphones as the bipedal visitors who pay to see them. [...] Biologist Rob Laidlaw sees animal interest in technology as a manifestation of their need for stimulation -- a result of the boredom they experience in captivity. He says keeping such animals stimulated is a huge challenge, even for sanctuary organizations that provide sprawling enclosures. "They're looking for any opportunity they can find to engage intellectually," said Laidlaw, a chartered biologist and executive director of Zoocheck, an animal protection organization. Laidlaw says technology has its uses in zoos, but the emphasis needs to remain on providing as many animals as possible with environments that are as close to their native habitats as possible. "My fear is always that people see these things and think they're a panacea when in fact they're not. They're just one little tiny facet of relieving the boredom of animals."
As most teenagers do, Nassir seems to have grown out of his preoccupation with cellphones, says Franke. He is strongly bonded to his half-brother, Sadiki, who shares the zoo's rainforest habitat with him. "It's like Nassir was a little boy, all he wanted to to do was sit in the basement and play games on the computer," said Franke. "I'm not really sure what the content of the videos was. Was it gorillas in the wild? I have no idea. Was it a cartoon? I have no idea. But obviously, there was something that was attracting him to it." But just in case he isn't quite over it, the note to the public remains up -- for now.
Gorillas, it seems, share more than just 98 per cent of our DNA. Zookeepers have discovered they can become every bit as interested in cellphones as the bipedal visitors who pay to see them. [...] Biologist Rob Laidlaw sees animal interest in technology as a manifestation of their need for stimulation -- a result of the boredom they experience in captivity. He says keeping such animals stimulated is a huge challenge, even for sanctuary organizations that provide sprawling enclosures. "They're looking for any opportunity they can find to engage intellectually," said Laidlaw, a chartered biologist and executive director of Zoocheck, an animal protection organization. Laidlaw says technology has its uses in zoos, but the emphasis needs to remain on providing as many animals as possible with environments that are as close to their native habitats as possible. "My fear is always that people see these things and think they're a panacea when in fact they're not. They're just one little tiny facet of relieving the boredom of animals."
As most teenagers do, Nassir seems to have grown out of his preoccupation with cellphones, says Franke. He is strongly bonded to his half-brother, Sadiki, who shares the zoo's rainforest habitat with him. "It's like Nassir was a little boy, all he wanted to to do was sit in the basement and play games on the computer," said Franke. "I'm not really sure what the content of the videos was. Was it gorillas in the wild? I have no idea. Was it a cartoon? I have no idea. But obviously, there was something that was attracting him to it." But just in case he isn't quite over it, the note to the public remains up -- for now.
God forbid he enjoy himself (Score:5, Insightful)
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I find it weird that they don't want him watching videos which he's apparently very interested in but rather should be busy "being a gorilla" in a fake habitat for our entertainment.
The chimps have a TV at our local zoo.
(Teletubbies, in case you were wondering... and most of them weren't paying much attention to it)
Re:God forbid he enjoy himself (Score:5, Funny)
The chimps have a TV at our local zoo.
(Teletubbies, in case you were wondering... and most of them weren't paying much attention to it)
We are talking about Gorillas, you ape!
Re:God forbid he enjoy himself (Score:4)
Speaking of which: https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
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I imagine a gorilla wouldn't have much trouble destroying any "tough" tablet and proceeding to eat the lithium battery. I can even see them throwing the tablet around with force the minute they lose interest.
Re:God forbid he enjoy himself (Score:4, Informative)
If I recall correctly there were some scientists a good while back who wanted to know how strong a silverback gorilla was. They placed an 800 pound object somewhere he used to come through to see if he could lift it.
He didn't just lift it.
He threw it over 20 feet.
They stopped trying to test how strong he was after that.
So yeah, ANY toy given to gorillas will be destructible.
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If I recall correctly there were some scientists a good while back who wanted to know how strong a silverback gorilla was. They placed an 800 pound object somewhere he used to come through to see if he could lift it.
Silverbacks can lift 800 kilos .
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If I recall correctly there were some scientists a good while back who wanted to know how strong a silverback gorilla was. They placed an 800 pound object somewhere he used to come through to see if he could lift it.
Silverbacks can lift 800 kilos .
https://www.wildgorillasafaris... [wildgorillasafaris.com]
A silverback can bench press around 4000 lbs. - basically, a car.
By the way, that's without working out. Humans can bench press over 800lbs., but that's with years of training and likely some hormonal help.
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If I recall correctly there were some scientists a good while back who wanted to know how strong a silverback gorilla was. They placed an 800 pound object somewhere he used to come through to see if he could lift it.
He didn't just lift it.
He threw it over 20 feet.
They stopped trying to test how strong he was after that.
So yeah, ANY toy given to gorillas will be destructible.
This is largely due to where tendon attachment points are, and the ratio of distances on the skeleton giving raw mechanical advantage at the cost of speed. A very fit gorilla can only throw something in perhaps the 30mph range, and yes it would be many times heavier than any human could. But kinetic energy can also be transferred by speed and humans are leveraged in a roughly 3-4 times higher gear meaning a fit human adult who practices can throw a 50-60mph object. For hunting, speed is key in projectile
Samsonite luggage (Score:2)
https://www.bing.com/videos/se... [bing.com]
I guess a person has to be pretty old to remember this commercial.
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a fit human adult who practices can throw a 50-60mph object.
Pro baseball pitchers regularly throw 90-100mph fastballs.
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a fit human adult who practices can throw a 50-60mph object.
Pro baseball pitchers regularly throw 90-100mph fastballs.
Yes, but very few people, even with training, can get over 90. 60 is achievable by most people, if they are fit and practice and it’s not limited to just a baseball but perhaps a denser and slightly less massive object.
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As a bodybuilder: fucking A! Lol yeah that'd def be a "no more trying to test how strong he is" after that lmao wow.
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Re:God forbid he enjoy himself (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: God forbid he enjoy himself (Score:2)
After all, we humans, it seems, share more than just 98 percent of their DNA.
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After all, we humans, it seems, share more than just 98 percent of their DNA.
Yep. I think the best part of the science of genetics is finding out our species is a few percent an adjacent (now extinct) species.
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Someone should slip him a tablet with the Planet of the Apes series.
Tablets with gorilla glass weren't meant for humans in the first place.
Re:God forbid he enjoy himself (Score:5, Informative)
I know you can't RTFA and first-post, but
Behind the scenes, the Toronto Zoo uses screens as part of its program to provide enrichment to a variety of animals, says Franke.
Not all gorillas enjoy watching screens, but those that do tend to prefer watching nature shows that include gorillas. The hyenas like Disney cartoons â" Franke isnâ(TM)t sure why.
So they do actually let animals watch videos, they just don't want randos to be choosing the content. Goatse could make a gorilla very confused and scarred for life.
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The hyenas like Disney cartoons â" Franke isnâ(TM)t sure why.
Probably because in Disney films hyenas get to pull of hijinks while never really being held accountable.
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Am wondering if animals watch our documentaries, will it be as confusing as someone shooting random videos and slicing them together to make a one hour clip?
After all we probably may not have shot documentaries which are interesting to an animal which probably have a better understanding of what sort of interactions are normal and what important bits are missing.
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That is correct. The problem is that these animals are bored to death. Maybe every once in a while they could toss a vegan into the enclosure.
P*rn (Score:2)
People shown him P*rn vids.
"Stop showing how we're manipulating you!" (Score:3)
"People only want to interact with dumb animals. Stop showing how human these close cousins might actually be to ourselves."
Porn (Score:2)
People shown him P*rn vid s.
TIL I'm still a teenager (Score:2)
Gorillas these days (Score:4, Funny)
Never go outside or talk face to face, always glued to their smart phones watching the Tik Tok.
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The version for gorillas is called Kink Konk!
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Who is the Tik, and why does he Tok?
The missing link. (Score:2, Funny)
A lot of Christians refuse to believe we evolved from apes. As far as I'm concerned, this ape proves just that.
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You are missing your own ambiguity. Your original comment says that the ape proves that Christians refuse to believe we evolved from apes.
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A lot of Christians refuse to believe we evolved from apes. As far as I'm concerned, this ape proves just that.
Last Common Porncesster....
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GGW. (Score:2)
I'm not really sure what the content of the videos was.
Gorillas gone wild.
Bad idea (Score:2)
I have a feeling this will have the opposite effect.
In The Wild (Score:2)
"Was it gorillas in the wild? We really don't know.
Oh, come on. Of course we know. Gorillas "in the wild", LOL. It was "GORILLAS GONE WILD". All primates instinctively use technology for porn!
The researcher needs to do more research (Score:4, Interesting)
Has he done any research to gorillas in the wild and what happens when you show them a video? I am guessing they will behave exactly the same as Nassir, even though they are stimulated by a more than sprawling enclosures
Because, you know, gorillas are just like humans.
Ah... (Score:1)
Please read the full article (Score:5, Informative)
I found the part about the zoos themselves trying to engage animals with technology more interesting than the part about visitors showing their phones to gorillas.
The fact that hyenas enjoy Disney movies has got to mean something.
I think that people who just read the title and snippet and are done with it are missing out.
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The fact that hyenas enjoy Disney movies has got to mean something.
They self-identify with the little cute singing and dancing animals?
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I've found our dogs over the years enjoy cartoons quite a bit. We had one that, when she'd hear the Powerpuff Girls theme, no matter where she was, she'd come running and hop onto the couch, hanging off the edge, staring at the screen ready for the show. Probably something about the brighter contrasts and simple animation.
Two gorillas (Score:2)
One cup
Just don't show Planet of the Apes (Score:3)
OK? Let's not give them any ideas.
They're just one little tiny facet of relieving (Score:1)
They're just one little tiny facet of relieving the boredom of animals trapped in cages.
Fixed that for you.
God forbid he realizes he's been monetized (Score:2)
And wants his cut. Or so his lawyer might say.
Jerry/Nasis Was a Man
Masters of Science Fiction S1 E3
https://youtu.be/aJHiOiMKzX4 [youtu.be]
I'm NEVER that in thrall to my phone... (Score:2)
Maybe some humans are closer to our simian cousins than others of us? ;-)
Maybe a lesson for humans (Score:1)
...you know, since we too are primates:
"...Nassir is so into those videos. It was causing him to be distracted and not interacting with the other gorillas, and you know, being a gorilla. He was just so enthralled with gadgets and phones and the videos...."
No fucking kidding?
Have you BEEN to a school or around anyone less than 30, lately? Pretty much the same behavior.
Maybe we should show the same level of parental care for our children.
Oh and I'll just leave this here: https://www.theatlantic.com/ma... [theatlantic.com]
"Why
Constructive videos (Score:2)
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Shakespeare? (Score:2)
Easy solution ... (Score:1)
Then release them from captivity you dumb f***.