Unshelved by Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum
comic strip overdue media

Monday, August 10, 2009

Neat!

Orangutans make musical instrument: Finding marks first time animal is known to use tool to help communicate

Orangutans in Borneo strip leaves off of trees and use them to alter a call they make, making it deeper to seem bigger and badder to ward off predators. I really wouldn't call it evidence of culture, as some have characterised it, since they're not making music for sheer enjoyment, as far as scientists can tell. However, I have no doubt that some other primates have the capacity for culture. Still, it's a very interesting finding.

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