Suggests earlier use of tools in human evolution.
Don't mess with other primates, human.
Wild gorillas have been seen using "weapons" for the first time, giving a new insight into how early man learned to use sticks and stones for fighting and hunting millions of years ago. Researchers observed gorillas in the Cross River area of Cameroon throwing sticks, clumps of earth and stones at human "invaders". It is the first time that the largest of the great apes has been seen to use tools in an aggressive way.
Experts believe that our ancestors may have learned to use sticks and stones in a similar way to frighten away predators. The scientists noticed the unusual behaviour during a three-year study. They believe the animals might have learned to throw objects from humans who were seen throwing stones at the gorillas.
Jacqueline Sunderland Groves, from the University of Sussex in Brighton, a member of the Wildlife Conservation Society team, said:
"The area is largely isolated from other gorilla groups, but there are herdsmen on the mountain. In one encounter a group of gorillas threw clumps of grass and soil at the researchers while acting aggressively. Another gorilla threw a branch. A third encounter saw the gorillas throwing soil at a local man who was throwing stones at the apes."
A gorilla was seen to use tools once before in the Congo, using sticks to test the depth of water and to cross swampy areas. The findings suggest that the use of tools may predate the evolutionary split between apes and humans six million years ago.
Source: UK Telegraph
4 comments:
Sometimes I think that the gorillas, orangutan, and chimps all laugh about their silly respective relatives - the black, asian, and white humans; and all our silly attempts at a non-animal society.
Since reading the Ishmael trilogy, I've held a growing fascination with our fluffier cousins.
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Very, very nice work on a very, very interesting subject.
Its just more prove on the early existance of modern man.
It boggles my mind how certain people can completely blow off the theory of evolution.
OMG, I can tell that you have studied evolution thoroughly and you are SO right. Why have I been wasting my time all these years?
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