Young gorillas learn how to dismantle poacher's traps (so cool!)

[DuaneBidoux]

I don't know if this will be locked as not being related for "Good Reads" but this is simply toooo cooool! It deserves a broad read and I don't know where to get that on DU other than here:

Just days after a poacher's snare had killed one of their own, two young mountain gorillas worked together Tuesday to find and destroy traps in their Rwandan forest home, according to conservationists on the scene.

"This is absolutely the first time that we've seen juveniles doing that ... I don't know of any other reports in the world of juveniles destroying snares," said Veronica Vecellio, gorilla program coordinator at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund's Karisoke Research Center, located in the reserve where the event took place.

[link:http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/07/120719-young-gorillas-juvenile-traps-snares-rwanda-science-fossey/|

[MannyGoldstein]

1. So cool!

Gorillas are mostly us.

I met Dian Fosse back when I was in college. She had a mighty, mighty heart. In short supply, these days.

[dougolat]

2. If that spreads and survives, that's cultural evolution!

I wish that was enough for their long-term prospects.
But it helps, and it's a hopeful development.

[DrDan]

3. that first comment was hilarious

[bananas]

4. lol

Comments (40)

dwdeclare

1:45 PM on July 27, 2012

...as the apes worked together to destroy the remaining traps in the area, unbeknownst to the amazed onlookers, two other apes began to reset a trap behind the group, which promptly snared the tracker and tourists as they tried to leave. as the apes stood by frantically jumping with excitement, hooting and prodding the trapped humans with pointed sticks, one of those inside the net was heard to bellow, "take your stinking paws off me you d@mn dirty ape!"

[MrMickeysMom]

5. I think it's a great read...

... Mostly because it shows that we can evolve our own damned selves!

[Uncle Joe]

6. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, DuaneBidoux.