|
. | . |
|
by Brooks Hays Kabarole, Uganda (UPI) Oct 23, 2014
As human development in Africa expands, the natural habitat of chimpanzees is shrinking across much of the continent. As a result, food sources are less abundant and contact between humans and chimps is more frequent. Sometimes, that contact is obvious (and insidious) -- chimps caught in human snares. Sometimes, however, that contact happens in the dark of night unbeknownst to the people involved. For the first time, biologists have documented what they refer to as "frequent and risky" nighttime raids of neighboring farms. In a new paper, published this week in the journal PLoS ONE, researchers from the Museum of Natural History in Paris and the Uganda Wildlife Authority detailed their observations of a group of thieving chimpanzees. In addition to the paper, there is video proof showcasing the stealthy chimp raids of a corn farm on the edge of Uganda's Kibale National Park. "Raiding fields is extremely dangerous -- chimps may be attacked or even killed by people defending their crops, but by raiding at night [these chimps] seem to have reduced this threat," Dr. Catherine Hobaiter, a chimp expert from the University of St. Andrews, told BBC News. "Such a dramatic change suggests the chimpanzees are responding to a very strong pressure to obtain the basic foods they need to survive -- a response to the widespread destruction of their natural forest home." While the study suggests these particular chimps are having impressive success, Hobaiter says the adaptive behavior is as worrying as it is impressive. "As local people become aware of these nocturnal raids they may try to defend their fields in the dark, and the risks of conflicts escalating and injury to both chimps and people is likely to increase," she added. As risky as the behavior is, the video evidence suggests these chimps are less careful and more nonchalant than scientists might have expected. It seems the darkness of a new moon offers the chimps a chance to relax even while performing a raid. Some pairs even took a break from their thievery to copulate.
Related Links Darwin Today At TerraDaily.com
|
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service. |