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Rock-Throwing Chimp 'Proves' He Can Plan

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 9, 2009 7:22 PM CDT

(Newser) – A male chimp in Sweden has stirred excitement by storing a cache of stones to hurl at visitors, the BBC reports. Santino, a chimpanzee in a zoo north of Stockholm, proves that animals can prepare for future events, said scientist Mathias Osvath. "These observations convincingly show that our fellow apes do consider the future in a very complex way," he told the AP.

Osvath began studying Santino after zoo staff found his stone supplies 12 years ago. What impressed Osvath most—beyond Santino's "highly developed consciousness"—was his tapping of water-weakened portions of concrete to pull out pieces of rock. Other studies have suggested consciousness in apes, but "now we have this spontaneous behaviour, which is always in some sense better evidence," said Osvath.

This undated picture made avalable Monday, March 9, 2009, shows some of the stones which Santino the chimpanzee used to hurl at visitors at Furuvik zoo in Sweden.
This undated picture made avalable Monday, March 9, 2009, shows some of the stones which Santino the chimpanzee used to hurl at visitors at Furuvik zoo in Sweden.   (AP Photo/Neurology/PA)
In this undated image released by Sweden's Furuvik Zoo, Santino the chimpanzee is seen in his enclosure at the zoo in Furuvik, Sweden.
In this undated image released by Sweden's Furuvik Zoo, Santino the chimpanzee is seen in his enclosure at the zoo in Furuvik, Sweden.   (AP Photo/Furuvik Zoo)
In this undated picture made available, Monday, March 9, 2009, Santino the stone-throwing chimp, is watched by a group of visitors at Furuvik zoo in Sweden.
In this undated picture made available, Monday, March 9, 2009, Santino the stone-throwing chimp, is watched by a group of visitors at Furuvik zoo in Sweden.   (AP Photo/Neurology/PA)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
northeast
Mar 11, 2009 7:49 AM CDT
Ah, can't say that anymore. That's racist now.
Derni
Mar 10, 2009 7:01 AM CDT
War-murder-toture-cheating-looks like himans are justprimates with a nice frontal lobe-we share about 98% of the genetic material with Bonobo apes-so next time you look inthe mirror-check and see if you can picutre youtself as an Ape.
Guest
Mar 10, 2009 12:33 AM CDT
you and me baby we ain't nothing but mammals...

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