Emotions in non-human primates: Washoe, Flo, Flint, and grief.

[akilcrease]

Do you think he had passed from malnutrition? Primates are not my area of study and was just thinking that perhaps he just stopped eating. And if the family moved on his depressive state could not have improved much.

[r0g3r]

I video taped "People of the Forest" with Flo, Fifi and Flint 20 years ago off of the television, and ever since I have been entirely captivated by primates, particularly Chimpanzees and Bonobos. Flint was a little terror, but it was heartrending to witness the depth of his grief.

[heids418]

this is HEARTBREAKING :(

[suhashini21]

awww..

[Stereobarf]

Anyone who says that animals don't have feelings is full of crap.

[Seewolfman]

As sad as it might have been for Flint: his"love" to his mother was the egotistical kind. He did not care, if he was torturing Flo, did not care, if the baby died- in fact he was overjoyed-he only wanted to push through his will and ego. Finally he paid with his life for it...

[veganmochi]

Exceptional (and deeply moving); thank you for posting these videos from your MA research journey.

[AbsolutelyCrackers]

This video always brings a tear to my eye :'(

I feel sorry for flint, he was obviously very attatched to his mother.

[superjongalindo]

flo died of died of old age and flint was 4 not a baby a week later flint was depressed and died

[salvolondon]

@superjongalindo flint was actually 7 or 8 when his mother died

[PhD4NonhumanPrimates]

@salvolondon - Thanks for your post!

According to Dr. Jane, Flint was approximately 8.5 years of age.

[thierrius1]

Anyone know which DVD had the complete program containing Flo and Flint? Seen this years ago, bought some Jane Goodall DVD's, but none have this heartbraking story.

[TheRealChina]

Very Touching

Thank you for uploading this Video !

[mromeyn]

Flo was grieving the loss of Flame both physically and emotionally much like a human mother who has lost an infant would. I believe after Flame passed away, Flo somehow knew that Flint would be her last offspring, and allowed Flint to regress. Flint obviously went into such a deep state of depression, after Flo's death, that it compromised his immune system, he died with in one month of Flo! Deep depression in humans does the same thing.

[mromeyn]

I truly believe that Flint died of a broken heart. The type of depression Flint felt obviously impaired his immune system and his will to go on. My daughter always and lovingly refers to us Flo and Flint, so connected that you feel you could not go one without the other, I don't know how anybody who watches this could deny the connection we have primates.

[UrbaneGent]

This scene is something that I have remembered when I saw it years and years ago. This shows how emotionally attached chimpanzees are to each other. Just incredible. Some say that Flo had gotten a virus of some sort and perhaps Flint had it as well. But I actually think Flint died of heart break.

[PhD4NonhumanPrimates]

While viral contagion is an interesting idea, the onus falls to one advancing this hypothesis to explain why no other ape (chimpanzee or human) in the reserve fell ill from any such disease. What we know from Janes writing is that, while Flo died suddenly, having shown no prior signs of obvious serious illness, Flint expired slowly, over many days after returning to where she had passed away after spending a short time travelling with his uncle Figan.

Thanks again for your thoughts!

[mromeyn]

I tried to post but it disappeared? So, I hope this not a repeat. I don't know how anyone who has watched "People of the Forest" could not believe that Flint died of a broken heart. Flo obviously showered Flint with an abnormal over abundance of affection, after Flame passed away (Flame passed at the age of 6 months).