Monday 15 December 2008

Whistling in the Dark?

It has been revealed (http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/dec/15/orangutan-animal-behaviour-zoo) that Bonnie, a 30 year old Orang-utan (Pongo pygmeus), at the Smithsonian National zoo in Washington DC has learned how to whistle (another thing it was thought great apes could not do). Workers who have studied this innovative primate reckon that she must have copied the activity from a keeper and now performs the activity (in spite of being somewhat tone deaf) for her own 'amusement'. Rumour has it that Bonnie has even passed on the activity (cultural inheritance?) to at least one of her cage mates.

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