It makes complete sense to me that our relatives, the chimpanzees, use language as a means to communicate and also have the capability of adapting tools for gathering food. There are actually many animals who utilize tools including birds and dolphins.
Wolfgang Kohler was a psychologist who studied learning and thinking among animals in the 1920’s. He discovered that chimpanzees were very good at using tools. In one test he placed a bunch of bananas outside the chimps cage and two bamboo sticks inside the cage. However, neither of the sticks was long enough to reach the bananas. One of the chimps, Sultan (pictured here), discovered that he could create a longer stick by pushing the thinner stick into the hollow of the thicker one, and was then able to retrieve the bananas.
It is also well documented that dolphins use sounds to communicate with one another, and that the tone of these sounds seems to convey information about the dolphin’s emotional state. Researchers have identified over 30 whistle-type sounds, each of which has a specific meaning. Squeaks and barks are often used to convey danger, protest, anger and irritation.
To be honest I find it a bit hilarious that animals are studied in this fashion, put to human tests and the egocentric parameters placed on this Cartesian mode of thinking. I feel that a far greater 'test' would be to completely reintegrate with nature and stop separating ourselves as isolated beings. We are all connected. 'We' may even find that we have something to learn if we look closely enough!
1 comment:
yes,it is hilarious. "guess what, guys, we figured out that animals can communicate." the only reason why these studies are interesting is teaching us how the animals communicate, so that we can better understand them, and maybe figure out a way to communicate with them.
Post a Comment