Congo's 'hippie chimp' at risk of extinction

[struggle4progress]

Updated Sun. Mar. 5 2006 8:19 PM ET

Associated Press

MBIHE-MOKELE, Congo — Scientists are struggling to save the fast-disappearing bonobo, the gentle "hippie chimp'' known for resolving squabbles through sex rather than violence.

Unfortunately, bonobos are prized by many Congolese for their tasty meat, and villagers who are illegally hunting the wiry, wizen-faced apes don't realize how close their prey is to extinction.

"Bonobos are an icon for peace and love, the world's `hippie chimps,' '' said Sally Coxe of the Washington-based Bonobo Conservation Initiative. "To let them die off would be a catastrophe.''

The animals are known for greeting rival groups with genital handshakes and sensual body rubs. Bonobo spats are swiftly settled -- often with a French kiss and a quick round of sex. <snip>

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060305/bonobo_ape_060305/20060305?hub=SciTech

[SammyBlue]

1. Damn. . .why can't our chimp learn from those chimps?

I'm sorry to hear that.

[derby378]

2. Oh, no...

As the man said, what's so funny 'bout peace, love, and understanding?

[depakid]

3. Unreal-

As few as 5,000 may now remain in Congo, down from an estimated 100,000 in 1984, said Ino Guabini, a primatologist with the World Wildlife Fund.

Things like this certainly don't make Northerners feel very sorry for the Congolese, which is unfortunately very counterproductive.

You don't even want to know what my gut reaction to this is....

[eppur_se_muova]

4. "Bush meat" - chimps, gorillas, bonobos - is decimating ape populations.

Check out http: //www.bushmeat.org

Front-page issue at: http://www.kilimanjaro.com/wspa/wspa.htm

google for more: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=bush+meat&btnG=Google+Search

[blindpig]

5. Genocide.

One day genus Pan will be combined with genus Homo, our differences are so few. But by that time the only survivors of former genus Pan will be restricted to captivity. Makes you wonder how much we had to do with the demise of neanderthalis.

I suppose it hardly matters as we commit or ignore genocide among currently recognised members of Homo so casually. The difference being, hell, what is the difference?

[Pooka Fey]

6. "What can we do if bonobo meat is tasty?'' Kanyamba said.

Fast forward 50 years..."What can we do if human meat is tasty?" said Madizzy Maxshizzledizzy, tribal chieftain of the westernmost region of Dumfuckistan, when asked to comment on the increasing scarcity of the genus 'homo sapien' once found in abundance in the former states of California, Oregon, and Arizona.