Tag Archives: monkey

Critique of The Arrogant Monkey: A Bold New Book Challenges the Myth of Human Exceptionalism

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Chimpanzee intelligence tests are primarily performed in laboratories, not in their natural environments or sanctuaries like this.

Patrick Meinhardt/AFP via Getty Images

The Arrogant Ape
by Christine Webb Abacus, UK; Avery, USA

In the beginning, God created man in His own image, granting him authority over all living things on Earth. While many do not turn to the Bible for insight into human existence, the belief in human superiority over nature and other beings lingers.

Characteristics often claimed to distinguish humans—such as reasoning, tool use, experiencing pain, and moral judgment—are not exclusive to us. Other species like chimpanzees and crows exhibit advanced intelligence, hold complex social structures, and utilize tools. Fish and crustaceans experience pain, while bees demonstrate cultural behaviors, and plants may possess senses akin to ours.

Primatologist Christine Webb posits that the so-called “human dominance complex” may be the root of nature’s hierarchies. In The Arrogant Monkey: And a New Look at Humanity, she seeks to dismantle this perceived superiority through a compelling and meticulously researched examination based on a course she taught at Harvard. Webb traces this notion back to religious traditions and other human constructs, revealing how it misrepresents scientific understanding and accelerates ecological decline.

The belief in human uniqueness contradicts Darwin’s vision of species continuity, and emphasizing differences among species is problematic. As Webb writes, “the degree of kindness,” reflects a hidden bias in research.

This bias is apparent in our fascination with primates and “charismatic” mammals, which we tend to view as more relatable, while disregarding plants, fish, and the vast majority of Earth’s life. It also reveals itself in our inconsistent standards for evaluating animals. For instance, comparisons between human and chimpanzee intelligence often pit captive chimps against their wild counterparts, ignoring the limitations that captivity imposes.

Concerned about ethical issues surrounding captivity and its potential to skew research findings, Webb focuses exclusively on great apes in their natural and protected habitats. These profound interactions have shaped her belief that many non-human species likely possess some form of consciousness or “conscious life.”

Webb anticipates that critics may dismiss her views as anthropomorphism, labeling it a “serious scientific error.” However, she argues that the reluctance to acknowledge similarities between humans and other species complicates scientific inquiry and undermines its conclusions. She questions the certainty with which humans claim to understand consciousness beyond their own.

Dismantling these beliefs is crucial for appreciating the wonder and diversity of life, marking the first step towards a “radically humble approach.” By recognizing ourselves as fellow animals and integral to nature, we can confront the destructive forces of capitalism that fuel zoonotic diseases, mass extinctions, climate change, and ecosystem collapse.

Webb advocates for broadening the concept of “good science” to incorporate indigenous knowledge about the uniqueness and interconnection of all life forms. She acknowledges the immense challenge this poses, declaring that human exceptionalism is “the most pervasive implicit belief of our era.” Yet, she believes that unlearning this can foster a deeper connection to nature, spark awe, and inspire advocacy for both animal welfare and environmental protection. In The Arrogant Monkey, she highlights this “stubborn ideology” and its detrimental impacts, modeling the humility, curiosity, and compassion essential for countering it.

Elle Hunt – A writer based in Norwich, UK.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Capuchin Monkey Snatches Baby Howler Monkey in Unusual Trend

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Capuchin monkey with white face of a man carrying a baby howler monkey

Brendan Barrett/Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior

Capuchin monkeys on a remote island in Panama are gaining attention as they acquire infants from the Howler monkey species.

A wild group of white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus imitator) residing on Zikaron Island has been under observation with 86 motion cameras since 2017. Researchers are studying their complex use of stone tools to open hard fruits, nuts, and shellfish. By 2022, five years into their study, they observed one young male capuchin, nicknamed Joker, frequently carrying a baby howler monkey (Alouatta coibensis) for over four months, sometimes for weeks at a time.

Initially, researchers speculated this might be an unusual behavior. According to Zoë Goldsborough from the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior, “I didn’t think we would find this.”

Months later, after observing Joker with the baby, four other young capuchins were spotted carrying howler infants as well. Over a span of 15 months, the capuchin group acquired 11 howler babies under four weeks old.

Researchers believe this behavior may spread through social learning, likening it to “primates and fashion,” notes Andrew Whiten, who was not involved in the study, from St Andrews University in the UK.

Baby Howler Monkey and two white-faced capuchins

Brendan Barrett / Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior

Mature female monkeys might adopt abandoned infants from other species as a way to practice nurturing. However, in this case, it’s immature male capuchins engaging in the behavior. Instead of merely adopting abandoned young, they appear to be actively taking howler infants from their families. Although there is no direct footage of theft, researchers documented a capuchin preventing a howler baby from escaping, while howler parents called out to find their infants, showcasing the capuchins’ defensive behavior.

The abducted infants are likely too young to survive without maternal care, leading to their eventual death from malnutrition. Investigators have observed at least three howler infants being carried even after they have died.

Learning from peers can be advantageous. Even if the behavior does not yield any tangible benefits, Whiten suggests it may simply be an expression of curiosity.

The capuchins on Jikarón Island face little competition and lack natural predators, allowing them to explore new behaviors, perhaps as a response to ennui. Goldsborough notes that Joker, who is frequently seen utilizing tools, may embody this trend. “If a tradition exists, individuals are likely to imitate other behaviors as well.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Capuchin Monkey Captured on Camera with a Baby Howler Monkey

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A baby Howler Monkey clings to the back of an older male monkey, whose small fingers grip the fur. However, they are not related and belong to different species.

Researchers have uncovered unexpected evidence of what they refer to as a monkey temptation while analyzing video recordings from a small island in Panama. Between 2022 and 2023, at least 11 baby Howler Monkeys were observed being carried by Capuchin Monkeys.

“This discovery was quite shocking,” remarked Zoe Goldsborough, a behavioral ecologist at the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior in Germany. “Nothing like this has been documented in the animal kingdom.”

The motivation behind the monkeys’ actions is currently being studied. Capuchins are cat-sized monkeys indigenous to South and Central America. They are intelligent, long-lived, and observed to learn new behaviors from one another. One group in Panama has even learned to use stones as tools to crack nuts and open seafood.

Goldsborough and her colleagues from both the Max Planck Institute and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute have set up over 80 cameras to investigate Capuchin tool usage, yet were surprised to witness the first baby Howler appearing in early 2022.

The footage revealed Capuchin Monkeys walking while using a stone tool, with a Howler baby secured on the back of one. However, the cameras failed to capture the abduction event. Scientists believe it likely occurred in the trees, where Howlers typically reside.

A baby Howler monkey clings to a young adult male Capuchin monkey on Zikaron Island, Panama in February 2023.
Brendan Barrett/Max Planck Animal Behavior Research Institute via AP

“Our perspective on this story is limited,” stated Margaret Crofoot, co-author from Max Planck and Smithsonian. The findings were published in the journal Current Biology on Monday. In most instances, including all recorded cases, the baby Howler Monkey did not survive, researchers said. Infant Howler monkeys are typically carried by their mothers while nursing, and all the babies featured in the videos were mere weeks to months old—far too young to be weaned.

“I hope that perhaps some have escaped and returned to their mothers, but we truly do not know,” Crofoot added.

The footage documented numerous occasions of young male Capuchins carrying a baby Howler, which likely succumbed to starvation. Many species, including gorillas and Orcas, have also been observed carrying their deceased offspring, but the reasons remain unclear to scientists.

What prompted the Capuchin to do this? There were no indications of an intentional attack on the baby, nor were there signs of predation.

“We spent countless hours trying to understand the motivation behind this behavior,” Goldsborough explained.

The first Capuchin to carry the baby may have acted out of confused “compassionate motivation” or parental instinct, showing gentleness towards the infant. Other males then replicated this behavior.

Researchers believe that the Capuchins did not purposefully harm the baby. So far, only a single group of Capuchins is known to exhibit this behavior.

This study highlights “significant behavioral variations among social groups of the same species.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

The Deer Monkey: Rewriting the Evolutionary Narrative

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On the verdant Yakushima Island in Japan, two types of animals have formed an unusual relationship that defies expectation.

The native Japanese macaque and Sika deer have developed a close bond. The macaque rides on the back of the deer like a tiny jockey, grooming its soft wool. The deer then drops the monkey near its sleeping area, eats the macaque’s feces, and tidies up the monkey’s habitat effectively.

It appears that the two species’ interaction is not incidental but a deliberate effort to engage with each other.

https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2025/01/deer-and-monkey.mp4
Macaque Monkey and Sika Deer

“There is a level of observation, thought, and understanding. It seems they are attempting to benefit from interacting and collaborating,” explained Professor Cedric Sueur, an expert in animal behavior complexity from Strasbourg University. “To me, they truly comprehend each other.”

Animals often learn behaviors from their own species. Studies have shown that birds can learn how to solve puzzles by observing others in their flock. Young meerkats learn safe ways to eat scorpions from their parents. Whales in specific groups develop unique dialects and patterns in their songs.

Researchers refer to this social learning as “culture,” where specific actions are passed down among groups. Sur and his colleagues propose that the deer and monkey’s behavior suggests social learning can extend beyond species, termed as “shared culture.”

“I believe there are multiple species engaging in shared culture,” stated Sur. “However, the concept of joint culture is relatively new and intriguing.”

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About our experts

Professor Cedric Sueur: An animal behavior researcher at Strasbourg University with published works in prominent journals.

Dr. Jean Baptiste Leca: A psychology professor at Lesbridge University with research published in respected journals.

Professor Dorothy Sueur: A primatology expert at Georgia University with research contributions to various international studies.

Dr. Michael Huffman: An associate professor at Kyoto University’s Wildlife Research Center with published work in premier scientific journals.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Citizens in Georgia rally against proposed construction of major monkey breeding facility in their community.

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Residents are expressing concerns about the facility itself and the potential for monkeys to escape, which has occurred in the past. Similar incidents have been reported at other facilities in the United States, including one operated by Oregon Health & Science University. In Portland, there have been no reports of harm to nearby residents,

“We’re facing a jungle – the noise, the smell, the risk of disease,” stated Penny Reynolds, who resides across the street from the land designated for the Bainbridge facility.

Safer Human Medicine has reassured residents that they take all necessary precautions to ensure that all waste remains on-site and is sent to the city’s wastewater treatment plant, and that most of the noise is contained on-site with no detectable odors.

Greg Westergaard, the CEO of monkey breeder Alpha Genesis, mentioned that establishing a monkey facility entails significant effort.

“It would involve extensive training and infrastructure,” he explained. “There will be unpleasant odors and wastewater from cleaning.”

Residents of Bainbridge point to the backgrounds of several executives at Safer Human Medicine, two of whom previously held leadership roles at companies that were under investigation, as a reason to be skeptical of their efforts.

CEO of Safer Human Medicines, Jim Harkness, is the chief operating officer of Envigo. He recently pleaded guilty. Thousands of dogs were abandoned, leading to a $35 million fine. Former Chief Operating Officer Kurt Derfler has left Charles River Laboratories. The Department of Justice issued a subpoena The probe was part of an inquiry into the potential smuggling of wild monkeys from Cambodia, and Charles River Laboratories stated at the time that any concerns about its involvement were “unwarranted.”

Neither Mr. Harkness nor Mr. Derfler faced individual charges related to those incidents.

Safer Human Medicine declined an interview request. “Envigo was functioning under unprecedented circumstances brought on by the pandemic,” they said in an email. They also stated that “we have been committed to operating responsibly and ethically in this field for decades and will continue to do so.”

Long-tailed macaques, also known as crab-eating macaques, are climbing the pillar in Indonesia in 2023.Chaidir Mahyudin/AFP via Getty Images file

Safer Human Medicine has stated that they do not use wild-caught macaques. Herpes BThe macaques will be sourced from Asia, but the specific location has not been disclosed.

Community activism in Bainbridge has made an impact. What was initially promoted as a “significant investment” is now overseen by Rick McCaskill, executive director of the Bainbridge and Decatur County Development Authority. Approximately $400 million and 260 jobs Things took a turn quickly. Following pushback from the community, Bainbridge leaders decided in February to Withdraw support for the Safer Human Medicine Project.

“The division and fear within the community seemed to outweigh the benefits of the project,” McCaskill remarked.

Monkeys used for research are housed at seven national primate research centers, each with its own breeding colonies, as well as other facilities across the country. While the national primate research centers mostly utilize rhesus macaques, pharmaceutical companies tend to prefer long-tailed macaques, which Safer Human Medicine intends to use.

Animal testing for drug development was formerly mandatory in the United States, but President Joe Biden will lift the ban in 2022. FDA Modernization Act 2.0 Signed into LawAllow non-animal options where possible. Several members of Congress voted this year to The bill was submitted. We advocate for a shift away from animal testing.

“There are various alternatives available today, such as AI, computer models, and organs on chips,” stated Jim Newman, spokesperson for the American Association for Medical Progress, a group that supports animal testing when necessary, “but current options can only reduce the number of animals to a certain extent.”

An artist’s rendering of a monkey enclosure proposed for Bainbridge, Georgia.Safer Human Medicines

Currently, researchers still rely on monkeys for certain tests, and some animal researchers cite a U.S. Shortage of long-tailed macaques — Imports reportedly dropped by over 20% in 2020 due to China halting exports, leading to a surge in prices of long-tailed macaques.

Safer Human Medicine believes that their proposed facility can address the monkey shortage, intending to start with 500 to 1,000 monkeys and then expand. They stated that the facility would be funded by industry and private donors in the US, without specifying them.

The extent of opposition from local residents to the facility remains unclear. Some local politicians who opposed the facility lost recent elections, but it is uncertain if their defeat was linked to their stance.

Nevertheless, Faircloth asserted that her group has no intention of backing down.

“If we don’t stand up for our rights, they will walk all over us,” she declared. “And we can’t allow that to happen.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com