Found: the giant lion-eating chimps of the magic forest

The Guardian ^ | 7/14/07 | James Randerson

[LibWhacker]

Deep in the Congolese jungle is a band of apes that, according to local legend, kill lions, catch fish and even howl at the moon. Local hunters speak of massive creatures that seem to be some sort of hybrid between a chimp and a gorilla.

Their location at the centre of one of the bloodiest conflicts on the planet, the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has meant that the mystery apes have been little studied by western scientists. Reaching the region means negotiating the shifting fortunes of warring rebel factions, and the heart of the animals' range is deep in impenetrable forest.

[LibWhacker]

I'm just interested in the existence of the beasts, not in whether or not they are a "threatened species," lol.

I suppose any new species found from here on out will be threatened by definition, if their numbers are so small that they've escaped detection until the 21st century. Probably why envirowhackos are so interested in new species. Something new to get automatically hysterical about.

[ImaGraftedBranch]

Oh, for heaven’s sake. I saw this in a movie. Same story. I think the writer had a deadline and just made this up.

[VR-21]

Aunt Patsy, is that you?

[xcamel]

wasn’t that the B-movie “silverback” on SciFi?

[saganite]

They might get hysterical but there’s not much they can do in that region.

I question the lion eating prowess of these apes. Lions usually work in prides and it would be difficult to seperate one out and kill it, especially since you might suffer casualties in the process. My guess is that they are opportunistic scavengers. Still, it’s interesting to find undiscovered outposts like this on the planet.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I disagree. Lions are much easier to kill than Kiwanis, Rotary, or Optomist Club members.

[Poser]

[Shermy]

.

[Bon mots]

Relax.
That’s just my mother-in-law. She’s off on vacation again. She’ll be back home in a week or so. Just chill, okay?

[IrishCatholic]

LOL!!!
You win as the best quip of the day :-)

[saganite]

I don’t even want to know how you know that!

[cripplecreek]

Have you watched “Congo”? If you go, wear a sturdy helmet.

[PAR35]

They might get hysterical but there’s not much they can do in that region.

I don't know. Perhaps we should go around to college campuses and try to convince the liberals to jump on a plane and go there to save the threatened animals.

[cripplecreek]

I don’t belive lions typically live in the jungle either.

[Scotsman will be Free]

I didn’t know that lions lived in the jungle, either. The article also equated elephants and buffalo to predators.

[saganite]

The only evidence cited in the article involved a Leopard. I believe you’re right. Lions usually operate in more open country.

[Bon mots]

Congo?

Which one?
This one?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0310911/

[cripplecreek]

This one.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112715/

[KittyKares]

http://www.stiftungleostrauss.com/media/1/20070112-monkey.gif

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Shermy.

Chimps killing lions could be a fabulous detail, but could also be true. Only lionesses live in prides with an alpha male and any cubs. Male lions travel and hunt alone either before they win a pride of their own, or after they’re old and infirm and run out by a younger male. The latter sometimes wind up as “maneaters”.

This all sounds more like baboons?

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Not only do they live in the mighty jungle, THEY SLEEP TONIGHT.

[Bon mots]

Thanks!

I saw that film at the top of the list, but thought it must be another since it was only rated something like 4.4 out of 10...

Is it worth watching? I’m forever looking for new films to watch with my wife... I think I’ve seen everything worth seeing. She is not crazy about Science Fiction - but I am... on the other hand, I can’t stand “chick flicks”.

:-)

[tet68]

the heart of the animals’ range is deep in impenetrable forest.
OF course, where ELSE would it be?

[cripplecreek]

I didn’t like the movie. I suppose for the fiction it’s OK but it’s one of those anti corporate movies where the bad (rich) folks get what’s coming to them.

Oddly enough, one of my all time favorites was “Silent Running” from the early 70s. It was an environmentalist anti nuke movie but who couldn’t enjoy watching Bruce Dern blow himself up while orbiting Jupiter.

[cripplecreek]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyjq9RJ-_yM

Speaking of the sleeping lion.

[freekitty]

I don’t believe this one.

[calex59]

Oh, for heaven’s sake. I saw this in a movie. Same story. I think the writer had a deadline and just made this up.

It was a book first and this article sounds like a description of the book! I think the name of the book was "Congo" but can't be sure, it has been some time since I read it, and yes, they did make a movie of it but, as per usual, they changed it quite a bit.

[calex59]

Thanks Shermy. Chimps killing lions could be a fabulous detail, but could also be true. Only lionesses live in prides with an alpha male and any cubs. Male lions travel and hunt alone either before they win a pride of their own, or after they’re old and infirm and run out by a younger male. The latter sometimes wind up as “maneaters”. This all sounds more like baboons?

You are correct about the baboons, they have been known to kill leopards that attack their young, and have occasionally attacked humans.

[Bon mots]

Thanks for the warning. I just wasted 1 1/2 hours watching a stupid film with a pretty good rating on IMDB...

The end was the only part watching, but I could have made a film out of that in just 4 minutes or so...

The movie was "Fountain", and I watched the whole stupid movie to see the end, when the guy finds the tree of eternal life...

...and...

SPOILER WARNING!!!!!

He sees how the sap hits the ground and flowers blossom from nothing... so he thinks its's the fountain of youth and drinks the sap...

...SECOND SPOILER WARNING...

...but then instead of becoming youthful, flowers start blossoming from him and he turns into a bed of flowers.

What a waste of 90 minutes!

[LonePalm]

By definition, any new species is "threatened" because of low numbers.

It took a long time and a lot of work for us to go from threatened to threatening.

Personally, I like being at the top of the food chain.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[MarkL]

Have you watched “Congo”? If you go, wear a sturdy helmet.

An OK book my Michael Chriton, and a really bad movie!

Mark

[pcottraux]

[DaGman]

I used to drink beer with some of their relatives here.

[Xenalyte]

Found: the giant lion-eating chimps of the magic forest

Now that's what I call a headline.

[redhead]

Dang! I just finished washing out my mind’s eye, now I have to take the Lifebuoy to my computer. Sheesh. Warn a guy next time, ok?

[RichInOC]

Damn. I want a giant lion-eating chimp.

[humblegunner]

Found: the giant lion-eating chimps of the magic forest

I hope the giant lion eats lots of magical chimps in the forest.

Go, giant lion!

Scarf up them magical chimps! Hoo yah, baby!

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***Found: the giant lion-eating chimps of the magic forest
The Guardian ***

Somehow I get the vision of King Kong chomping down on a native islander.

[null and void]

Yes!

[eastforker]

Hey Bro, looks like you finaly got your internet connection up and running.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Sometimes it’s found in the kidneys. At least, that’s what I read in the...appendix.

[humblegunner]

Hey Bro, looks like you finaly got your internet connection up and running.

Nah, not yet. Maybe next week.

I'm still pirating the neighbors.

Hear that thunder???

[eastforker]

Yup, just lost power for a second, oh well, still going fishin at the jetties in the morning in the new /old boat. Next weekend, giant yard sale, FSS, three days. Maybe following weekend you, the eakers and us maybe can all go fishin, whadayathink.

[Politicalmom]

Sounds like someone is detonating bombs around my house.

My four year old was so terrified she kept screaming. Thank goodness for loud air purifiers and bedtime.

[eastforker]

forgot to ping you two.

[Eaker]

When he investigated he came across a chimp feasting on the carcass of a leopard. Mr Hicks cannot be sure the animal was killed by the chimp.

Once I came home early and I came across my wife feasting on the carcass of a cow (sandwich). I cannot be sure the animal was killed by my wife.

[Eaker]

However, a Moose will kick yer butt!

[humblegunner]

Maybe following weekend you, the eakers and us maybe can all go fishin, whadayathink.

Fishin' it is, with frying, too!

I should have a reliable connection by Monday or Tuesday.

I'll give y'all a holler.

[humblegunner]

I cannot be sure the animal was killed by my wife.

Odds say the animal was killed by your wife.

Statistics don't lie.

[eastforker]

cool,should have enough rods and tackle for everyone, lets see how it goes.