Leaving stoic stereotypes behind, this silverback shows his playful side with a caregiver. Having no idea what the TV show is about, I find it best to watch the video without any sound. Thanks to the Tonia at the Gorilla Keepers Forum for pointing it out!
Dutch Biologist Receives 14-year Sentence
One of Time Magazine's "Hero's for the Planet 2000", known for discovering new species (Callicebus bernhardi, Callicebus stephennashi, etc.) and focusing his attentions on protecting the rainforest has been convicted of failing to apply for a permit on behalf of the monkey refuge in his Brazilian home. It seems that without the permit (or license)... Continue Reading →
Rebuilding forests in an effort to save orangutans in Borneo
In a effort to help save orangutans, Malaysian authorities are proposing a fund of 200 million ringgit (approx. 59 million US dollars) to rebuild the Ulu Segama-Malua forest in eastern Sabah state on Borneo island. The proposal covers work on 4,000 hectares of logged forests and 1,000 hectares of degraded forests (approx. total 12,355 acres).... Continue Reading →
Reducing stress levels at Chester Zoo
A new study has changed the lives of seven mandrills for the better at England’s Chester Zoo. With the help of zoo staff, Durham University researchers found that placing shrubs between the glass enclosure and the visitor’s area reduced stress levels (as seen through aberrant behaviors) and increased natural behaviors. Examples provided: approaching the glass... Continue Reading →
Discovery of new primate genus and species in Lake Casa Blanca International State Park in Laredo, Texas
In an announcement today at the annual meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists in Philadelphia, Jim Westgate (Lamar University and University of Texas-Austin), Dana Cope (College of Charleston), and Chris Beard (Carnegie Museum of Natural History) shared their discovery of a new primate genus and three new primate species found in the Lake... Continue Reading →
Understanding the evolution of human emotional communication through chimpanzee facial expressions
Coming from a graduate program where I had the opportunity to study humans as well as non-human animals, I sometimes became frustrated with the liberties that were (seemingly) allowed in research with humans, but not non-human animals. Namely the use of physiological markers (facial expressions in infants and young children) in identifying emotions. Emotion regulation... Continue Reading →
New Enclosure at London Zoo: Gorilla Kingdom
On Friday, March 30th, the London Zoo will present a new enclosure to the public, Gorilla Kingdom (check out the website - there's a fun little gorilla video clip in the header). Effie, from Leipzig Zoo, joins Bobby and Zaire in an effort to recreate a natural gorilla harem. The £5.3m project includes indoor and... Continue Reading →
When 48 becomes 50: two baby orangutans at Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Center
Towards the end of last year we posted on the anticipated release of 200 orangutans from the Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Center in Central Kalimantan to the protected Baktikop forest. Their departure provided more room for 48 new residents from Thailand (which recently became 50 new residents). Willie Smits (Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation and Reconstruction... Continue Reading →
Nine chimpanzees have a new home at the Save the Chimps facility in Florida
To update Kambiz's previous mention of Carol Noon's chimp refuge, nine more chimpanzees arrived at the Save the Chimps 200 acre facility in Florida on Friday bringing the total number of residents to 99. Dr. Carol Noon, Save the Chimps Director, on their trip from New Mexico: "When they arrived, I got on the truck... Continue Reading →
Estrus asynchrony in chimps
Just want to quickly point out some interesting reading that popped up in this month’s issue of Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (and in a LiveScience post). Estrus cycle asynchrony in wild female chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii. The authors (Matsumoto-Oda, et al.) highlight the prevalence of the synchronized cycle mating strategy (among primates and other animals)... Continue Reading →
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