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

This is a video segment from the DVD companion to my master's thesis," The Development of Self as a Means for Determining Degrees of Culture," where I explore the emotional depth in our next of kin, the chimpanzee, with whom we share nearly 99% of our genetic inheritance.

This work meets the Fair-use Statute Section 107 of the 1976 Copyright Act: 1. The purpose and character of the use is for nonprofit educational purposes. 2. The nature of the material is factual. 3. The amount and significance of the portion used in relation to the entire work is less than 1%. 4. The use will have no effect upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. This segment is currently important for use in my Ph.D. research as well as the high school science classes I teach.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• psychology
• chimpanzee
• Flo
• Washoe
• Flint
• emotional
• development
• primatology
• comparative
• biological
• animal
• mind
• brain
• sign
• language
• ASL
• J Patrick Malone
• evolutionary
• evolution
• darwin
• emotions
• physical
• anthropology
• affective
• consciousness

[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!

[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...

[PhD4NonhumanPrimates]

@salvolondon - Thanks for your post!

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

[salvolondon]

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

[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.