Pacific Spirit Marine Institute
Apes Are Smarter Than Humans After All! Science now has proof.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
It’s amazing to find out that Apes plan ahead, but is it an earth shattering discovery?
Scientists in Sweden are detailing the results of studies they have been doing on chimpanzees and an orangutan. Apparently they offered up instructions on how to extract fruit ’soup’ from a tube and the primates caught right on and figured that was a pretty sweet tool.
The apes were offered this tube, after they were taught how to use it, along side other items such as a broken wrist watch. The apes decided to reject the wrist watch in favor of the tube. The apes apparently realized the tube would give them something tasty later. They were also offered plastic cars and teddy bears, still they opted for the tube.
The researchers therefore deduced the primates were planning for the future rather than seeking the immediate gratification of the a discarded wrist watch, a blue plastic car and a small teddy bear.
My dog buries his bones in anticipation of saving it for later. Squirrels hide their nuts knowing winter will be coming someday. Is that a cognitive decision or simply instinct maybe it’s just the will to survive.
It looks like the apes are not only able to plan for the future but, they are also smarter than humans. Rejecting the discarded wrist watch makes perfect sense. After all it would only make them late for their future appointments and with gas prices soaring who would want the added responsibility of a blue car, plastic or not. I’m sure they realized they wouldn’t be granted a drivers permit anyway.
The scientists believe the apes consciously chose the new tool, which was the hose, over useless pieces of distracting junk. They must be smarter than humans.
Labels: Uncategorized
© 2009, Pacific Spirit Marine Institute.
Apes Are Smarter Than Humans After All! Science now has proof.
