Zoo chimp 'planned' stone attacks

http://news.bbc.co.uk/ ^

[marthemaria]

A male chimpanzee in a Swedish zoo planned hundreds of stone-throwing attacks on zoo visitors, according to researchers.

Keepers at Furuvik Zoo found that the chimp collected and stored stones that he would later use as missiles.

Further, the chimp learned to recognise how and when parts of his concrete enclosure could be pulled apart to fashion further projectiles.

The findings are reported in the journal Current Biology.

There has been scant evidence in previous research that animals can plan for future events.

Crucial to the current study is the fact that Santino, a chimpanzee at the zoo in the city north of Stockholm, collected the stones in a calm state, prior to the zoo opening in the morning.

The launching of the stones occurred hours later - during dominance displays to zoo visitors - with Santino in an "agitated" state.

This suggests that Santino was anticipating a future mental state - an ability that has been difficult to definitively prove in animals, according to Mathias Osvath, a cognitive scientist from Lund University in Sweden and author of the new research.

"We've done experimental studies, and the chimps in my mind show very clearly that they do plan for future needs, but it has been argued that perhaps this was an experimental artefact," Dr Osvath told BBC News.

[WildcatClan]

and the chimps in my mind show very clearly that they do plan for future needs

Has chimps in his head. That can't be good.

[heartwood]

This suggests that Santino was anticipating a future mental state - an ability that has been difficult to definitively prove in animals, according to Mathias Osvath, a cognitive scientist from Lund University in Sweden and author of the new research.
________

It suggests that Santino was anticipating hordes of humans coming by later, at any rate. Charming creatures, chimps.

[Red in Blue PA]

This Chimp can plan for the future.....better than Obama!

I’d vote for the chimp.

[Red Badger]

There has been scant evidence in previous research that animals can plan for future events.

Birds build nests........

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Chimpanzees actually have wars.

Why is this surprising?

[Jagman]

This is stupid. My dog “plans” to come back tomorrow for the bone he buried yesterday. And at least he doesn't throw things as people!

[Red Badger]

The chimps in my mind don’t like you very much..........................;^)

[Abathar]

I think I’d prefer to dodge a rock than a big ‘ol handful of poop being slung at me...

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

And squirrels gather acorns and store them away. Why hasn’t this been called “planning?”
The dog goes to the door and whines to go out. Is that “planning?”
The point is that these scientists are in a mad rush to prove that the human mind isn’t really so great after all.

[Red in Blue PA]

“The point is that these scientists are in a mad rush to prove that the human mind isn’t really so great after all.”

It isn’t as great as we humans make it out to be.

[wolfcreek]

Put him in Coach, he’s ready to play.

[Puddleglum]

you know what? dogs learn what time the mail man usually comes around each day and lie in wait.

[onedoug]

At the Monkey Jungle south of Miami in the ‘60s there was a sign: “Throw Peanuts to Chimps and They Will Clap For You.”

I think all we ever got was a bunch of feces.

[SouthDixie]

This suggests that Santino was anticipating a future mental state

Perhaps but initially it is learned behaviour. Someone or something at one time threw rocks at the chimp.
Since the chimp isn't under any danger at the zoo, its premeditated agitated state is unwarranted.
I would wager he is an Obama supporter.

[Wontsubmit]

They castrated this chimp to “keep it under control”. That is the SOP in Liberal Sweden ...

[G.Mason]

I thought posts about chimps were outlawed now that the little zer0 was in the big house.

[Rebelbase]

The NC state zoo has a plexiglass barrier between the chimps and the viewing area for this very reason. The chips throw stones at the barrier which makes a loud bang, then hoot and jump up and down when people scream.

[proud American in Canada]

the chimps in my mind show very clearly that they do plan for future needs

Aside from the unfortunate lack of commas around "in my mind," on topic, squirrels plan for future needs by "squirreling away" nuts. And chimps are smarter than squirrels, so it's not a huge leap from planning for anticipated hunger to planning for anticipated confrontation (or harassment, or whatever else a caged chimp might be feeling about humans watching him).

I'm sure animals in zoos get all kinds of harassment. He was perhaps planning on defending himself.

[Rebelbase]

“Since the chimp isn’t under any danger at the zoo, its premeditated agitated state is unwarranted.”

The chimps are in danger of boredom.