Papaya-stealing chimps

A study of chimps in western Africa has shown that male chimps steal papayas to impress potential mates. Video courtesy of University of Stirling, UK. More: http://environment.newscientist.com/article/dn12633

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• chimp
• papaya
• Africa
• steal
• mate
• new
• scientist
• newscientist

[stevil2006]

surely this cant be considered stealing. he just wants to get laid for gods sake. wouldnt you "borrow" a papaya if this was the case?

[lukeginferno]

Girls always go for the bad guys.

[jefftherealdrunk]

just like southeast dc after dark - LOL

[crisology]

legolds "Wow, this is pretty similar to the human behavior isnt it?"

Exactly and we are talking about social (unnatural) eating behavior customs within groups to be specific. We aren't observing nutritional dietary requirements being met w/papaya (exotic species) unless chimps are just trying to survive w/any food after the villagers destroyed the jungle there, which would otherwise supply natural food for chimps.

[legolds]

Wow, this is pretty similar to the human behavior isnt it?

[crisology]

Because the locals want the papayas for themselves. Papayas are an exotic (non-native) species to Africa prized by specific human and chimp cultures. The chimps can only get it from stealing and it is the risk that the females are attracted to. They may like the taste too but instead of hunting collubus monkeys and offering monkey parts to females for an alpha male courting ritual, the papaya is the trophy of risk that impresses females.

[1337cookie]

Perhaps gathering is an impressive act? How do you know they understand its someone elses.

[hughlooks]

Not really a lot of science to this, don't you think?

[onevoss]

cheeky monkey! oh! my bad

[Crazyoldmerc]

Jay & Silent Bob: "If I'd known I could get laid just by stealing a monkey I'd have been steling monkeys my whole life!"

[calprior]

you hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh­hhh

[Bodegamedia]

You can just see the poachers moving in during the last seconds of the clip...... then cut. "Thieving bastard chimps!"