Sunday 8 May 2011

CAN APES REALLY COMMUNICATE WITH HUMANS.

Can Human Beings really communicate with our jungle and forest cousins. Some years ago I watched a documentary about a relationship between a male Ape and a Zoologist which lasted for approximately 18 months. During this time the pair bonded and using sign language they had the ability to communicate with each other at a basic level. Eventually the Zoologist had to move on but he never forgot his Ape friend. After a number of years he felt the need to find out what has happened to the Ape he befriended. After an extensive search he found out that the Ape was being held at a research lab in the USA. He got permission to visit the lab and when he came across the Ape it was in a cage that was far too small for it. As he approached the Ape he signed that he was glad to see him and the Ape replied using sign said "Where were you". The zoologist found this reunion very emotional and had mixed feelings about if he did the right thing in going to see the Ape. I can't remember the outcome of this story ( I don't think they met again ) but I thought that It was really sad to see where the Ape had ended up.

The videos below show a Gorilla using sign language to communicate with its keepers. See what you think.

                                                   
                                                          


68 comments:

  1. I believe that in some ways they can understand our emotions and feelings and can grasp mutual friendship. (watched a programme once where a man doing a documentary returned to a pack of Silverbacks after a year and they all recognised him and welcomed him back) so it is hard to say for sure.

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  2. I'm sure I read somewhere that they actually had there own language to warn others of predators and or food.

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  3. I do think there is a certain way to understand emotions, just as I've learned to recognize how cats express themselves.

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  4. I knew that with research we would find closer ties between us and apes

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  5. First thing that comes to mind: Tarzan.

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  6. D'aww the "where were you" part almost brought a tear to my eye. Nice post, gonna follow for more!

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  7. I really believe they can, personally. They aren't far from us genetically...

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  8. Even if you have a dog, you know it doesn't take much for simple emotional interaction to occur. I'm sure if they have the means, they can communicate.

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  9. I think its really sad what ended up happening to the gorilla you mentioned... they are obviously intelligent enough to communicate with us we should treat them better

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  10. wow, thats seriously sad. Should of taken the ape home or something.

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  11. That's pretty cool that he ape remembered him, it's to bad that he ended up in a cage.

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  12. This reminds me of Planet of the Apes.

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  13. I thought of Tarzan too. I actually had a dream about Tarzan last night...?? Wasn't communicating with apes, though. Just swinging through trees.

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  14. Of course they can! But you wanna talk about smart animals, go read up on crows. Deceptively, insanely smart animals.

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  15. Thats pretty interesting!!! I remember seeing this documentary about a monkey who thought it was human an walked upright.

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  16. thats nothing - i talk to stray cats and stuff

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  17. I'd be heartbroken to see an old friend in a cage like that. Especially if he made me feel guilty about his present conditions.

    And then there was Shatner. At least I ended with a smile. :D

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  18. Sad stuff, probably made the ape sadder to see him go.

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  19. I've seen some documentaries and whatnot on this. Interesting stuff.

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  20. Oh dang, I gave you the same award as Kicking Rocks. Just a testament to your blogs awesomeness.

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  21. Whoa, the part about the ape asking where he was. That's definitive proof that apes are highly intelligent beings. I've no doubt that other animals are intelligent, but apes are just able to communicate it.

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  22. i agree with @hifi that other animals are intelligent and apes are just able to communicate it.

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  23. i believe we all have emotion and struggle against expressing it, even "beasts".

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  24. Fascinating. Ever see that wonderfully horrible film congo?

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  25. Awww, kind of a sad story but very interesting! I think any animal can see our emotions to some extent.

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  26. This is exactly why we have to protect this species!

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  27. sad story. don't think that creature did anything to deserve being jailed.
    +followed

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  28. Of course they can, we are their decendents after all!

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  29. Love your blogging work! Keep up the good work you make really good posts!

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  30. too bad dolphins dont have hands... they could have full on converstations.

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  31. Yeah I think they are smart enough. The only thing that makes us different are our thumbs and more advanced brain (arguable)

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  32. I don't see why not. We communicate with dogs.

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  33. It's the level of communication that differs apes from cats, dogs, etc. Of course we can communicate with cats and dogs but only to the extent that when we make a noise at a certain tone that they recognize they then react to this noise with a behavior that has been previously linked to that noise. Such as calling their name or sit, rollover, etc. They don't posses high functioning communicative capabilities. If apes can do sign language then that is light years beyond cats and dogs.

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  34. an interesting communication lesson for us to be able to share with fellow creatures of god.

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  35. My dogs can communicate their emotions, I'm sure apes can too...

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  36. ohh all the racism i could say but wont :)

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  37. Love you blog title man, and awesome post. Will be following.

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  38. ive seen this before and since theyre soo a like i think it is very possible

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  39. The ape really seem to be intelligent.

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  40. I believe sentient animals will be a possibility in the future.

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  41. Shatner with a gorilla made my day.

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  42. That Gorilla had a chance to finally rid the world of the annoying Priceline guy and he failed.

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  43. I always talk to my dogs as if they can understand me, but that's just me being strange

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  44. Thats really something i remember seeing a vid of a Lion that grew up with a couple of guys and after a few years they send the Lion to a shelter or something. Then after a few years they visited the Lion and they where all emotional and where going straight to hug the Lion and i thought DAMN THIS IS NOT GONNA END WELL and for my surprise THE FREAKING LION RECOGNIZED THEM AND PLAYED WITH THEM i was Shocked and in all seriousness i teared up a bit.

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  45. Wow, that really is amazing. It's too bad the gorilla you mentioned ended up in that situation.

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  47. Really fascinating stuff! And touching!

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  48. Dolphins and apes always seem so smart for being animals.

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  49. I've always wanted a spider monkey, i know they can't communicate as well, but it would still be badass.

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  50. Well, obviosuly monkeys are not the dumbest animal you can find. So I bet there is something going on besides bananas inside their furry heads! And I would pay big bucks to know what, lol. I can imagine some crazy thoughts they must have...or not at all. eh.


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  51. I hear some ape's have been taught sign language.

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  52. Communication can happen on may levels. For example, facial expressions is being used to communicate with wolves on a basic level, so I do believe that some communication can be performed with primates as well.

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  53. Ya, they do not have the depth of communication that comes with speech but they still express feelings and emotions... that shit was sad about the ape "where were you"

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  54. Yeah Shatner was funny lol.

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  55. Wow, this is really interesting. Maybe they can, not magically, of course. Maybe our facial expressions can say more that we think.

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