Evolution before our eyes?

**Kaishowing** · 02-Mar-07, 22:07

I read this and was shocked/amazed to say the least.
Will this change attitudes to other species?

Chimpanzees living in the West African savannah have been observed fashioning deadly spears from sticks and using the tools to hunt small mammals -- the first routine production of deadly weapons ever observed in animals other than humans.
The multistep spearmaking practice, documented by researchers in Senegal who spent years gaining the chimpanzees' trust, adds credence to the idea that human forebears fashioned similar tools millions of years ago.

Read the full article here:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...201007_pf.html

**sweetpea** · 02-Mar-07, 23:37

Either it's an urban myth or global warming. No seriously I found it pretty scary reading it if it's true.

**scorrie** · 03-Mar-07, 01:14

I don't think this is anything new. I saw/read years ago that chimps hunted and killed other chimps for food. Why would humans be surprised that near relatives were as ruthless killing machines as themselves?

"Woke up this morning, got myself a gun"

**sweetpea** · 03-Mar-07, 01:18

I think they are perfectly capable but wouldn't want to se them in action cause it would be a bit surreal! I'd never underestimate the intelligence of anything other than human. My rabbits can do things you'd never believe.

**Rheghead** · 03-Mar-07, 02:03

What this thread is about for me is where we raise the bar in relation to humans for the recognition of animal rights. I am all for recognising that human rights are at the top, but where sentience demands rights, then the great apes come pretty darn close behind, in fact the rights of apes could arguably overlap with members of the human species who are in comas etc.

**crayola** · 03-Mar-07, 02:14

Originally Posted by Kaishowing

I read this and was shocked/amazed to say the least.
Will this change attitudes to other species?

Read the full article here:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...201007_pf.html

Pity you stopped quoting where you did. It gets better.

Chimpanzees living in the West African savannah have been observed fashioning deadly spears from sticks and using the tools to hunt small mammals -- the first routine production of deadly weapons ever observed in animals other than humans.

The multistep spearmaking practice, documented by researchers in Senegal who spent years gaining the chimpanzees' trust, adds credence to the idea that human forebears fashioned similar tools millions of years ago.

The landmark observation also supports the long-debated proposition that females -- the main makers and users of spears among the Senegalese chimps -- tend to be the innovators and creative problem solvers in primate culture.

Not much has changed since we humans went through that phase then?

**sweetpea** · 03-Mar-07, 02:18

I picked up on that too Crayola, lol, the innovators and problem solvers eh bit like wonder woman and bionic woman heehee

**Kaishowing** · 03-Mar-07, 02:52

Like the saying goes, 'the female of the species is more deadly than the male'.
I find nothing amazing that it's the females that are the main users of the spears.
I've seen how dangerous January sales can be!!!

It's rather sad to think that we're no longer the only species able to construct to destruct simultaneously.
Give it 1500 years and they'll invent their version of the gun.

**crayola** · 03-Mar-07, 02:55

Originally Posted by Kaishowing

Like the saying goes, 'the female of the species is more deadly than the male'.
I find nothing amazing that it's the females that are the main users of the spears.
I've seen how dangerous January sales can be!!!

It's rather sad to think that we're no longer the only species able to construct to destruct simultaneously.
Give it 1500 years and they'll invent their version of the gun.

Don't be so naive. We'll be selling them guns long before they can invent them for themselves.