If you’ve ever doubted our genetic relationship with apes, now’s the time to open your mind. Simply watching this orang-utan carefully wash his or her face with a moist cloth is absolutely enchanting and convincing of the fact that we share a common ancestor.
Video Source: “Proof that Darwin was Right” Uploaded by Sour Cherries on YouTube channel www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKU5VT0uumU
Canadian born and South African raised, Thea Beckman AKA Wander Woman Thea, is an experienced travel, food, and wine writer and (amateur) photographer with a devastating love of all of the above. She is a travel bug, a bookworm, and mildly alarmed by how many arthropods she can be at once. When she’s not writing for a living and for pleasure, she enjoys bird-watching, reading, drinking wine, cooking, and SHORT walks on the beach because the summer southeasterly winds in Cape Town are a real bitch.
Thea is the author of the book “Why? Because Science!”
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If you spend a bit of time with primates you will be shocked to see what happens there is no doubt in my mind that we share more than most would care to admit. From moments of boredom, sulking, and tantrums the (human traits) are clear to see. Funny how when around humans in a zoo etc how they start to loose there natural behavior and adopt ours. Great blog…Dan
It’s equally as funny to see how certain humans have adopted the behaviour of apes, namely the psychopathic zealots who are leading the world into another global war #Parisattacks. Oh WAIT! Not even apes behave that murderously!
It’s interesting – Orang-utans are the most distant ape relation we have – and yet have exactly the same body language. Speaks volumes. I had breakfast with one once and noticed that in person (it was very much self-aware, ate more sensibly than I did, and I am pretty sure it also didn’t think that farting was a matter for first guffawing and then having a sense of smug achievement…) Fact is that humans ARE apes in terms of the accepted taxonomy and it’s obvious anyway – we behave like them naturally because, well, that’s us too. The challenge is figuring out how to do better, and when I look at just how awful groups of people are to each other, when they needn’t be, so far humanity as an ape species doesn’t seem to be too good at it. Damn. (What did Einstein say again about human stupidity…?)
Well I wish that were true. When a alpha male Charmancha Baboon is overthrown the new leader has a habit of going through his new troop and physically tears (Like pieces of paper) all of the old leaders offspring apart .This will insure that he can mate with all the females as well as continue his blood line. I must say this is tough to watch. I have also seen females from opposing troops sneak off to mate with rival males. ( To appease the sexual tension) This often keeps the peace, something to be said about that as we tend to frown on this behavior. Sound like a plot for a upcoming medieval block buster !!!!
Yet another reason why culling the alpha males to keep piece in our area often is not the easy hassle free solution its made out to be.
Without going all sandals and muesli we can lean a lot from our distant cousins. We may have not invented murder but we do it on a global scale with no real reason other than greed and ego. More often than not nothing more than a difference of opinion. Dan
You make a great point. But I will say that as brutal as alpha male baboons’ behaviour is, it’s a part of ensuring the strength of the species as a whole. Only the fittest males are able to preserve their status in the troop and any babies sired by lesser males are killed. It’s horrible, I know. Nature can be cruel.
Granddad? Well, maybe not, but it’s close. I’ve never doubted our genetic relationship to apes, so I’m not surprised by the behavior, but that doesn’t stop me being amused by it. He really does look like a little old man.
Wander Woman Thea 
Reblogged this on Kerberos616.
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If you spend a bit of time with primates you will be shocked to see what happens there is no doubt in my mind that we share more than most would care to admit. From moments of boredom, sulking, and tantrums the (human traits) are clear to see. Funny how when around humans in a zoo etc how they start to loose there natural behavior and adopt ours. Great blog…Dan
LikeLike
It’s equally as funny to see how certain humans have adopted the behaviour of apes, namely the psychopathic zealots who are leading the world into another global war #Parisattacks. Oh WAIT! Not even apes behave that murderously!
LikeLike
It’s interesting – Orang-utans are the most distant ape relation we have – and yet have exactly the same body language. Speaks volumes. I had breakfast with one once and noticed that in person (it was very much self-aware, ate more sensibly than I did, and I am pretty sure it also didn’t think that farting was a matter for first guffawing and then having a sense of smug achievement…) Fact is that humans ARE apes in terms of the accepted taxonomy and it’s obvious anyway – we behave like them naturally because, well, that’s us too. The challenge is figuring out how to do better, and when I look at just how awful groups of people are to each other, when they needn’t be, so far humanity as an ape species doesn’t seem to be too good at it. Damn. (What did Einstein say again about human stupidity…?)
LikeLike
Well I wish that were true. When a alpha male Charmancha Baboon is overthrown the new leader has a habit of going through his new troop and physically tears (Like pieces of paper) all of the old leaders offspring apart .This will insure that he can mate with all the females as well as continue his blood line. I must say this is tough to watch. I have also seen females from opposing troops sneak off to mate with rival males. ( To appease the sexual tension) This often keeps the peace, something to be said about that as we tend to frown on this behavior. Sound like a plot for a upcoming medieval block buster !!!!
Yet another reason why culling the alpha males to keep piece in our area often is not the easy hassle free solution its made out to be.
Without going all sandals and muesli we can lean a lot from our distant cousins. We may have not invented murder but we do it on a global scale with no real reason other than greed and ego. More often than not nothing more than a difference of opinion. Dan
LikeLike
You make a great point. But I will say that as brutal as alpha male baboons’ behaviour is, it’s a part of ensuring the strength of the species as a whole. Only the fittest males are able to preserve their status in the troop and any babies sired by lesser males are killed. It’s horrible, I know. Nature can be cruel.
LikeLike
Granddad? Well, maybe not, but it’s close. I’ve never doubted our genetic relationship to apes, so I’m not surprised by the behavior, but that doesn’t stop me being amused by it. He really does look like a little old man.
LikeLike