'Hippie Chimps' Fast Disappearing in Congo

Yahoo ^ | March 3, 2006 | Anjan Sundaram

[E Rocc]

MBIHE-MOKELE, Congo - Even as Congolese villagers devise novel ways to snare the fast-disappearing bonobo, scientists are racing to save the gentle "hippie chimp" from extinction.

The bonobo, or pan paniscus, is closely related to man and known for resolving squabbles through sex rather than violence. It's also prized by some Congolese for its tasty meat. The wiry, wizened-faced chimps are being killed in treetop nests in Congo's vast rain forest, their only natural habitat in the world, by villagers who do not seem to know how fast their prey is disappearing.

"Bonobos are an icon for peace and love, the world's 'hippie chimps,'" said Sally Coxe of the Washington-based Bonobo Conservation Initiative. "To let them die off would be a catastrophe."

[E Rocc]

This name is unnecesarily insulting to the chimps. They most likely bathe more often than hippies, are likely much smarter, and certainly smell better.

-Eric

[Junior]

Typical Third World idiots who'll sacrifice longterm viability for short term gain. If they want to eat the damned chimps they should take care they don't eradicate the animals -- otherwise they'll wake up one morning with nothing left but bones.

[edpc]

This is true.....no matter what species.

[MaryFromMichigan]

Bonobos are known for greeting rival groups with genital handshakes and sensual body rubs. Bonobo spats are swiftly settled — often with a French kiss and a quick round of sex.

Sounds like a movie sequel, "Brokeback Bonobos".

[Brilliant]

The hippie chimps are not disappearing. They are just moving to San Francisco.

[Pessimist]

Well if they're know for resolving squabbles through sex rather than violence, maybe they should just f*** the villagers into submission.

[nuconvert]

[Incorrigible]

You and me baby and nothin' but mammals..

 

[nightdriver]

"It's also prized by some Congolese for its tasty meat."

Isn't eating monkey meat a suspected vector for the HIV virus entering humans?

[Tijeras_Slim]

Typical Third World idiots who'll sacrifice longterm viability for short term gain.

An attitude not entirely limited to the third world.

[IamConservative]

Bonobo spats are swiftly settled — often with a French kiss and a quick round of sex.

Seems to imply that they are not monogamous or don't mate for life. Certainly glad humans have not adopted the shaking of each others junk as a form of greeting. I was planning a trip to DC for the Cherry Blosson festival. If humans had adopted this form of greeting, I would cancel this trip on the off chance I might bump into Helen Thomas.

[BenLurkin]

The Bono chimp?

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

The generic answer seems to be the market place. You charge eco-tourists mega-bucks to see said chimps, and thus provide incentives to protect the animals. Cows don't survive because they're smart or able to defend themselves - they survive because they're economically important and someone has an incentive to protect them.

[andy58-in-nh]

The hippie chimps are not disappearing. They are just moving to San Francisco.

And man are they ever ugly.....

 

[Willie Green]

Did they burn their draft cards yet?

[ndt]

"Hippies Smell"

But apparently they good with Cassava root and fermented goat milk.

[trimom]

Not only not monogomous, but they are not choosy about gender, either! Chaperoned a group of 9th graders to the Columbus, OH zoo, a first class facility. But those randy primates were mating with everything, including, well, let's just say, there were busy hands everywhere.....

One of my daughter's worst days was having mom there for that exhibition! LOL

[petro45acp]

"To let them die off would be a catastrophe."

Uh, why?

[dfwgator]

Sounds like a bunch of hippie crap.

[petro45acp]

"Isn't eating monkey meat a suspected vector for the HIV virus entering humans?"


nope, that would be the use of chimp liver in the culturing of vaccine, then vaccinating large numbers of the populace.