Chimpanzee
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| Chimpanzee |
Chimpanzees communicate even without a highly evolved voice box
using gestures, something which is quite common in the animal kingdom,
something that any observer who watches closely can ascertain within a
few hours of watching animals in their natural habitat. That should not
surprise us much, but since it has surprised some, let's talk.
There was an interesting article recently in BBC's Earth News Edition Online titled "Chimpanzees' 66 Gestures Revealed" by Victoria Gill (Science and Nature Reporter) which was published on May 5, 2011. The article states that "previously it was estimated that chimps used about 30 gestures" - but I find all this rather troubling, especially in the assumptions being made, after all the story was about a PhD researcher who spent 266 days in a wildlife refuge in Uganda.
Well, consider if you will that this is merely a sliver of the total number of chimpanzee troops in the world, and that being in a refuge is a lot safer, thus, these wild chimpanzees are less than totally wild, and further, we know that our own domesticated animals within a few generations see decreased brain function since everything is provided for them, they don't use it so they lose it.
What I'd like to suggest is that just because this one chimpanzee troop used 66 gestures doesn't mean there isn't a chimpanzee troop somewhere that doesn't use 400, 500, or even 1000 gestures to communicate, see that point? Now please do not get me wrong, this is a valuable study, but it's merely a mile-marker from the Washoe Chimp studies and Jane Goodall's remarkable work. There is a lot more to this sub-species and to this story.
Nevertheless, I'd like to know why no one else has addressed my questions here, as it would seem that any true research biologist would be asking the same questions, also where is the public questioning of these findings. These are not conclusions, rather this is a single study done in a specific place and time. Whereas, it is an interesting study, there are now even more questions, questions we need to answer without the religious filter or species centric attitude that humans are known for.
Consider if you will the silliness for humans to look down on chimpanzees and assume that 66 gestures is all they are capable of? Nonsense, and by the same species centric reality, why is no one reasoning that human societies have all sorts of different languages and communication methods, body language, etc. The Chinese have 10s of thousands of symbols, and there are 10s of thousands of words in the English language, does this mean those are the upper limits - absolutely not. See that point as well.
Indeed, I'd like you to consider all this and think on it.
There was an interesting article recently in BBC's Earth News Edition Online titled "Chimpanzees' 66 Gestures Revealed" by Victoria Gill (Science and Nature Reporter) which was published on May 5, 2011. The article states that "previously it was estimated that chimps used about 30 gestures" - but I find all this rather troubling, especially in the assumptions being made, after all the story was about a PhD researcher who spent 266 days in a wildlife refuge in Uganda.
Well, consider if you will that this is merely a sliver of the total number of chimpanzee troops in the world, and that being in a refuge is a lot safer, thus, these wild chimpanzees are less than totally wild, and further, we know that our own domesticated animals within a few generations see decreased brain function since everything is provided for them, they don't use it so they lose it.
What I'd like to suggest is that just because this one chimpanzee troop used 66 gestures doesn't mean there isn't a chimpanzee troop somewhere that doesn't use 400, 500, or even 1000 gestures to communicate, see that point? Now please do not get me wrong, this is a valuable study, but it's merely a mile-marker from the Washoe Chimp studies and Jane Goodall's remarkable work. There is a lot more to this sub-species and to this story.
Nevertheless, I'd like to know why no one else has addressed my questions here, as it would seem that any true research biologist would be asking the same questions, also where is the public questioning of these findings. These are not conclusions, rather this is a single study done in a specific place and time. Whereas, it is an interesting study, there are now even more questions, questions we need to answer without the religious filter or species centric attitude that humans are known for.
Consider if you will the silliness for humans to look down on chimpanzees and assume that 66 gestures is all they are capable of? Nonsense, and by the same species centric reality, why is no one reasoning that human societies have all sorts of different languages and communication methods, body language, etc. The Chinese have 10s of thousands of symbols, and there are 10s of thousands of words in the English language, does this mean those are the upper limits - absolutely not. See that point as well.
Indeed, I'd like you to consider all this and think on it.
Lance Winslow is the Founder of the Online Think Tank, a diverse
group of achievers, experts, innovators, entrepreneurs, thinkers,
futurists, academics, dreamers, leaders, and general all around
brilliant minds. Lance Winslow hopes you've enjoyed today's discussion
and topic. http://www.WorldThinkTank.net - Have an important subject to discuss, contact Lance Winslow.
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