Lucy The Chimp

Edward I did catch it, very fascinating!

Edward,

There was a new story this week on NPR, about a Bonobo, that has far surpassed what Lucy could do. The "owners", both PHD types can communicate now, through a spoken word/language, which they, the researchers can understand, but I had a hard time hearing words.The ape actually talks! This is far and away beyond "signing" and an actual spoken language. I heard it while driving on Saturday, but not sure what show.

Amazing stories and leaves NO doubt about what we and other Primates are capable of doing as far as communicating and how these "beings" shouldn't be kept as "zoo" creatures, along with the whales and other sea mammals,

Rich

I tuned in late, missed the Lucy story but heard about the Bonobo. Fascinating. Really good show.

I thought I heard this story before.... It was also told in This American Life #401

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/401/parent-trap

Edward,

I found it! We were driving back from St. Augustine to Orlando and our radio was going in and out, but this is the story!

http://www.radiolab.org/story/91708-kanzi/

Rich

Ed,

I caught most of it. Very interesting.

Dave

i read a book called Jennie along similar lines.
http://www.prestonchild.com/books/preston/jennie/

I wondered if Kanzi knew what "sorry" meant, apparently he did. How would one keep Konzi from biting others he felt was threatening to his keepers? Sounds animalistic, can he be reasoned with? I would not say he is a human although animals think and feel more than most think.

I kept a friend's dog during the day for a period of time. He would let me know he wanted to go out by touching his nose on my arm or leg. If he was going out with his owner for a walk he would come and touch me to let me know he wanted me to come too. One day when I was slow in taking him out, he made the motions of doing # two in the family room in front of me by crouching and looked back at me as if to say "This is what I need to do!" His body language spoke loud and clear, I immediately jumped up and took him out.

Six months later I saw this same dog I had cared for for six months. Seeing him after this long period outside he hardly noticed me probably because he has not been "fixed" and finds smells on the ground extremely stimulating. Isn't this animal behavior? Sometimes we can be like that too!

Suzanne,

Kanzi "knew" he did something wrong and finally apologized, and Steve(?) could communicate with him. The whole story, is really about the "language" that the 3 of them created and used. Not a keyboard or sign, but vocal, which ALL 3 could understand. Kanzi "told" Steve that he needed to protect the woman and if he didn't, Kanzi would punish Steve, by biting him, which he did the first time later, that Kanzi had an opportunity. That's communication!

This is a first, as far as I can see, where a human and an Ape, communicate orally and understand each other!

Rich

Reminds me of Planet of the Apes. That book/movies makes one think about role reversal and maybe a bit more empathy for the other creatures that share this planet with us.

Edward,
Did you listen? Pretty amazing! This "communication" is a first! Both of those scientists can understand Kanzi vocal/oral language! Kanzi TOLD steve that he had to defend his wife and if not, Kanzi would punish him and bite him, which he did!

Rich

Rich, yeah its all amazing stuff. But don't dolphins communicate with humans? Dogs? My dog tells me when he is hungry, when he wants to go out, and when to stop hugging my wife and pay attention to him.

In the Tulsa Zoological Park I was a primate keeper and the University of Oklahoma had an interesting sign language program going on there. I had had previous experience in this at theTopeka Zoological Park so I got in charge of the Chimps's training. My chimp learned 21 words in sign language very quickly. Most signage he used was for food and drink or play however.

Edward,

This is WAY beyond simple gestures! This is actual communications from one species to another. You need to listen to that story!

Vincent, listen to this link. This Bonobo has an immense vocabulary, and can communicate "concepts", not just grapes or hungry!

Rich

This link does not work.

Vincent,

My link does! Just follow it and see, just tried it!

Rich

I agree with you Rich, Kanzi appears to have cognitive thinking powers. The problem seems to be they still can harm you and can be unpredictable, Kanzi lives behind a protective fence.

Suzanne,

I'm not proposing they should live among us! Just that a breakthrough has happened, concerning communications, "real" communications between species!

Rich

What I think we are finding is that the basics of thought exists in all species, but.....

But humans have far larger brains.

The latest theory on why humans have larger brains is the number of calories humans consume v the size of our bodies.

We cook our food and that makes a difference in how many calories can get out of the food. Tender meats and cut vegetables reducing the fiber
content etc etc give our bodies more energy. We only process our food, when we discuss what we now call processed foods we are talking about
taking processing to a higher level.

Early man cooking his food led to brain growth generation after generation.

Dave

The list of differences between humans and animals is getting shorter all the time.

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Rich - I listened to it - show of remorse.

Edward,

Yes, not a "happy" story, once you get past the right now part and begin to think about ALL the other "sentient" beings that we have in Zoos and Water Parks. The fault lies in our hands, since we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg, concerning "communications" with other species. And since "WE" aren't doing such a good job communicating, we punish them for not responding to our own archaic means of communicating!

Since "they" don't respond to our attempts, they must be less than us!

Rich