Monday, April 28, 2008 | Reason : Evolution and Biology | print version

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Orangutan attempts to hunt fish with spear

by Daily Mail UK

Thanks to Pulsar1z for the link.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/technology/technology.html?in_article_id=562236&in_page_id=1766&ito=1490

Orangutan attempts to hunt fish with spear

A male orangutan, clinging precariously to overhanging branches, flails the water with a pole, trying desperately to spear a passing fish.

It is the first time one has been seen using a tool to hunt.

The extraordinary image, a world exclusive, was taken in Borneo on the island of Kaja, where apes are rehabilitated into the wild after being rescued from zoos, private homes or even butchers' shops.

"Orang hutan" means "forest man" in one of Indonesia's many languages and our long-armed cousins do indeed show a remarkable ability to mimic our behaviour.

This individual had seen locals fishing with spears on the Gohong River.

Although the method required too much skill for him to master, he was later able to improvise by using the pole to catch fish already trapped in the locals' fishing lines.

The image is part of a series taken for a new book, The Thinkers Of The Jungle, which also includes the first photograph of an orangutan swimming.

Thinkers Of The Jungle, by Gerd Schuster, Willie Smits and Jay Ullal, is published by Ullmann Publishing on May 5, RRP �29.99.

Posted: Monday, April 28, 2008 | Permalink

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1. Comment #170989 by pulsar1z on April 28, 2008 at 8:08 am

And Evolution goes on and on. I love that picture.

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2. Comment #170993 by evolver23 on April 28, 2008 at 8:12 am

That's a beautiful picture. At least for me, it strikes at the heart of what it means to be human, and forces me to realize once again that our empathies should extend far beyond those solely in the human race.

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3. Comment #170997 by Count von Count on April 28, 2008 at 8:14 am

Beautiful!

Perhaps this picture will help people to see why it is important to preserve these already endangered creatures.

Does anyone know where to get a higher resolution copy?

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4. Comment #171001 by Bruno on April 28, 2008 at 8:20 am

There is an excellent TV show on Animal Planet, a cable channel in the states, where I believe this photo was taken from. While the show is targeted at kids, it contains a lot of amazing footage of these primates doing some pretty amazing things (and I don't mean circus tricks) just being observed living in the wild.
http://animal.discovery.com/tv/orangutan-island/orangutan-island.html

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5. Comment #171002 by Prankster on April 28, 2008 at 8:22 am

Superb

Evolution and development of some spieces just amazes me sometimes.......

Wonderful image, made my day that-thanks for the article

Best

Prankster

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6. Comment #171003 by moderndaythomas on April 28, 2008 at 8:23 am

What a photo indeed.
How you can look at this and claim no more a relation than the fish he's catching I have no idea.
I see a family resemblance.
In fact I was holding that same pose just the other day.

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7. Comment #171007 by jdb on April 28, 2008 at 8:25 am

I love pictures like this. It reminds us how close we are.
My wife and I were watching Nature the other night on PBS and they showed a mother gorilla nursing her baby. We were amazed at how much that image reminded us of just a couple of years ago when our daughter was nursing: the way that the mother holds her child, the way the child looks up with her eyes wide open staring at mommy, the way baby folds her arms and fiddles with her fingers.
I can't understand how some people, even if they don't understand the science, can refuse the fact that there is an obvious connection.

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8. Comment #171012 by gd_edi on April 28, 2008 at 8:34 am

I agree with everyone. Stunning photo!

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9. Comment #171013 by Edamus on April 28, 2008 at 8:36 am

Excellent!

That's quite a hard task, I couldn't imagine myself performing it... I wish 'em luck on that!

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10. Comment #171017 by Verylee on April 28, 2008 at 8:37 am

Nice pic, but I am a bit (very!) skeptical about its veracity. It looks very contrived/set up to me, and I thought that Orangutans ate fruit and bugs in the main, so why would one decide to go for such a slippery catch (High effort/low payoff) for protein when mice and voles would suffice? I don't know, it's in the Mail, so it must be true! Holiday snap of the editor maybe?

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11. Comment #171021 by Bonzai on April 28, 2008 at 8:44 am

Nice pic

Although the method required too much skill for him to master, he was later able to improvise by using the pole to catch fish already trapped in the locals' fishing lines.

So he is really stealing rather than "fishing". Naughty monkey.

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12. Comment #171023 by Colwyn Abernathy on April 28, 2008 at 8:45 am

Forgive me for this, but I can't resist this gag...

"OOO-BEE-DO! I wanna be like you-hoo-hoo! I wanna walk like you, talk like you, too-hoo-hoo. You see it's true-hoo-hoo, an ape like me-hee-hee can learn to be, hu-human, too!

From The Jungle Book, sorry! :)

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13. Comment #171027 by poictesme on April 28, 2008 at 8:49 am

Mighty straight for a pole found in the jungle.
I think the hairy fellow must just have dropped a can of beer in the river to keep it cool, and that picture portraits her shooing away a Coors Bass that was getting too close to her priced possession.

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14. Comment #171028 by Wosret on April 28, 2008 at 8:50 am

10. Comment #171017 by Verylee

so why would one decide to go for such a slippery catch (High effort/low payoff)for protein when mice and voles would suffice?

Dunno. Maybe you should track him down and explain to him the illogic of his endevour. I'm sure he will be quite embarrassed when he finds out that he could have gotten equal protein with less effort.

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15. Comment #171036 by Bruno on April 28, 2008 at 8:59 am

Response to VeryLee and Mitchell:
In an episode I mentioned above from the tv show "Orangutan Island" on Animal Planet there was a scene of an Orangutan sort of corralling a fish near the river bank and actually catching it with his hands. The scene continued with the primate holding the fish along its spine and then chomping down into the fish's soft underbelly. While I watched this, I too thought Orangutans subsisted mostly on fruits and vegetables (which the show portrays). But there this Orangutan was, enjoying a little sushi. If you can see the show, I highly recommend it. The new season starts in September.

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16. Comment #171039 by phil rimmer on April 28, 2008 at 9:03 am

Another Pic for the family album.

Doesn't it make you proud!

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17. Comment #171040 by hoops mccann on April 28, 2008 at 9:05 am

"This individual had seen locals fishing with spears on the Gohong River.

Although the method required too much skill for him to master, he was later able to improvise by using the pole to catch fish already trapped in the locals' fishing lines. "

I hope that he never sees anyone using dynamite!

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18. Comment #171041 by pulsar1z on April 28, 2008 at 9:06 am

The Orangutan obviously confiscated the pole and by watching fishermen close by was inquisitive enough to give a go with his skills. I don't think the photo was staged.

I can't help think that if this species could survive for another 100,000 years or so, (which is doubtful) they would be capable of space travel.

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19. Comment #171042 by huzonfurst on April 28, 2008 at 9:09 am

I hope he never sees anyone reading a Bible or Koran!

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20. Comment #171044 by phil rimmer on April 28, 2008 at 9:10 am

I can't help think that if this species could survive for another 100,000 years or so, (which is doubtful) they would be capable of space travel.

Yeah, but at this rate they'll be riding horses and shooting rifles soon. Best not let them watch any old Charlton Heston movies. (That man was a bad influence.)

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21. Comment #171045 by akado on April 28, 2008 at 9:11 am

that is so awesome! XD

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22. Comment #171048 by alexmzk on April 28, 2008 at 9:14 am

hm, daily mail, hmmmm.

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23. Comment #171051 by DamnDirtyApe on April 28, 2008 at 9:17 am

Let's not get carried away folks... This is the daily mail after all, plus that pole is clearly not natural. It must have been trained by a human or is at least immitating one.

Side note: much dumber animals (crows) are excellent tool users, and very good at making and using spears for 'fishing' grubs.

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24. Comment #171052 by DamnDirtyApe on April 28, 2008 at 9:19 am

Doctor zeius Doctor zeius
Doctor zeius Doctor zeius
Doctor zeius Doctor zeius -ooh - Doctor zeius

What's wrong with me? I think you're crazy.
Want a second opinion! You're also lazy.

Doctor zeius...

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25. Comment #171065 by cam9976 on April 28, 2008 at 9:35 am

Isn't is obvious that god made that Orangutan mimic human behavior to test our faith in Jesus?

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26. Comment #171068 by HourglassMemory on April 28, 2008 at 9:40 am

Another trap by Satan!

Now, seriously, that is quite a picture!
It's quite extrodinairy seeing an organutan doing that.
It's eerie but fascinating at the same time.

Other Comments by HourglassMemory

27. Comment #171071 by Wosret on April 28, 2008 at 9:41 am

15. Comment #171036 by Bruno

I was being facetious.

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28. Comment #171073 by Wosret on April 28, 2008 at 9:42 am

Doctor zeius Doctor zeius
Doctor zeius Doctor zeius
Doctor zeius Doctor zeius -ooh - Doctor zeius

What's wrong with me? I think you're crazy.
Want a second opinion! You're also lazy.

Doctor zeius...

"Can I play the piano anymore?"

"Of course you can!"

"Well I couldn't before."

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29. Comment #171077 by Prankster on April 28, 2008 at 9:48 am

Hmm Daily Mail?

A-ha!

Obviously it's a picture of a foul asylum seeking, benefit sponging illegal immigrant fishing our rivers dry before he's caught and deported.....

I'm kidding......

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30. Comment #171086 by Apathy personified on April 28, 2008 at 9:57 am

As this was the Daily Mail, no doubt the headline was, 'Ape with Spear, fear it, fear it, fear it.'

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31. Comment #171145 by Naturalist1 on April 28, 2008 at 10:35 am

Yes..Very cool photo. It reminds me of the story about a year ago where chimpanzies were observed using a spear to kill a small squirrel for supper. One could argue that they had seen men use a spear for a similar purpose and were just mimicking us...I don't think so..they took it one step further. The thrilling part was that the chimps had figured out how to sharpen the thing! This of course implies the huge abstraction that they had learned how to manufacture the spear and had devised a way to do it by rubbing it on a stone. They had not yet figured out to throw the weapon..they were using it as a cudgel..stabbing the squirrels. I just love whenever anything like this regarding other species surfaces.

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32. Comment #171178 by Aaron on April 28, 2008 at 10:54 am

I for one welcome our new orangutan overlords.

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33. Comment #171215 by russkid on April 28, 2008 at 11:23 am

I was watching orangutan island about 2 months ago and saw the orangs picking fish out of shallow pools that got cut off from the main river durring low water levels.

Also, I saw one where they were pilfering the trot lines that some fisherman had set up... initially I believe they only wanted the plastic bottles that were used as floats, and the fish were just an extra bonus.

Im not sure if this orang intended to "fish" or not, but this pic does seem genuine to me.

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34. Comment #171228 by MaxD on April 28, 2008 at 11:33 am

This an amazing photo. I wonder what it implies. Did the orang make the leap that if one could spear the fish in a net that it would be possible to spear them in any environment? Its too bad we don't know more.

DamnDirtyApe,
Crows and Ravens are spectacular problem solvers, good at solving novel problems dreamt up by mean researchers. I'll direct you to a little more respect for the Corvidae in general sir! :)

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35. Comment #171263 by swordsbane on April 28, 2008 at 11:55 am

We're going to be in trouble when they figure out we're responsible for Global Warming. We know how to use lawyers, but they can throw rocks better.

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36. Comment #171273 by bluebird on April 28, 2008 at 12:00 pm

...there is an obvious connection

Oh yea!!
Our younger son has auburn/copper hair. I recall holding him as a baby while watching a nature program showing a female orangutan holding her baby. 'Twas a wonderful 'feeling connected to nature' moment.

The news of chimps using "spears" to hunt bushbabies is a year old (I somehow missed it), but here's a current article about it:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/04/chimps-with-spears/mary-roach-text/1

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37. Comment #171274 by Prom_STar on April 28, 2008 at 12:01 pm

The inevitable fundie response:

"It's still just a monkey."

*Sigh*

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38. Comment #171314 by Epinephrine on April 28, 2008 at 12:28 pm

DamnDirtyApe

Side note: much dumber animals (crows) are excellent tool users, and very good at making and using spears for 'fishing' grubs

What makes you think that crows are "much dumber"?

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39. Comment #171347 by Wosret on April 28, 2008 at 12:52 pm

I've heard that some birds have IQs comparable to Dolphins.

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40. Comment #171357 by Chris Walsh on April 28, 2008 at 12:58 pm

Has anyone read this book?

http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/498258/-/Product.html?searchstring=so you think you're human?&searchsource=0

It's quite a compelling case for our non-uniqueness (did I spell that right?).

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41. Comment #171405 by moderndaythomas on April 28, 2008 at 1:26 pm

I think the hairy fellow must just have dropped a can of beer in the river to keep it cool, and that picture portraits her shooing away a Coors Bass that was getting too close to her priced possession.

Coors?
Please, no self respecting orangutan would go fishing for anything less than 6.5% alcohol.
He's got standards!

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42. Comment #171420 by Naturalist1 on April 28, 2008 at 1:33 pm

Mitchell. Read Scientific American March 2007. In this issue is an amazing article titled, "How Smart Are Ravens?". How smart?..really smart! Mechanical problem solving ability. Yes...they have an IQ beyond dolphins and are second only to primates.

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43. Comment #171432 by Naturalist1 on April 28, 2008 at 1:38 pm

Bluebird...Thank you for clarifying and posting the article about the chimps using spears...It was the one to which I was refering.

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44. Comment #171447 by beelzebub on April 28, 2008 at 1:48 pm

I'm so impressed, I've made it my avatar! :-)

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45. Comment #171450 by obscured by clouds on April 28, 2008 at 1:49 pm

Hundredth monkey phenomenon

I am forced to improvise the details, but as near as I can tell, this is what seems to have happened. In the autumn of that year an unspecified number of monkeys on Koshima were washing sweet potatoes in the sea. . . . Let us say, for argument's sake, that the number was ninety-nine and that at eleven o'clock on a Tuesday morning, one further convert was added to the fold in the usual way. But the addition of the hundredth monkey apparently carried the number across some sort of threshold, pushing it through a kind of critical mass, because by that evening almost everyone was doing it. Not only that, but the habit seems to have jumped natural barriers and to have appeared spontaneously, like glycerine crystals in sealed laboratory jars, in colonies on other islands and on the mainland in a troop at Takasakiyama.

Yes, according to Watson, one monkey taught another to wash sweet potatoes who taught another who taught another and soon all the monkeys on the island were washing potatoes where no monkey had ever washed potatoes before. When the "hundredth" monkey learned to wash potatoes, suddenly and spontaneously and mysteriously monkeys on other islands, with no physical contact with the potato-washing cult, started washing potatoes! Was this monkey telepathy at work or just monkey business on Watson's part?

http://www.skepdic.com/monkey.html

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46. Comment #171482 by mordacious1 on April 28, 2008 at 2:13 pm

Actually, he's not fishing. He just pushed Ben Stein in the river, and he's trying to finish him off. Good luck to him. Some animals are smarter than some humans.

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47. Comment #171528 by Sargeist on April 28, 2008 at 2:35 pm

Tomorrow's Daily Mail headline:

"Monkeys stealing hard working fishermen's jobs"

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48. Comment #171545 by njwong on April 28, 2008 at 2:50 pm

Comment #171017 by Verylee

... I thought that Orangutans ate fruit and bugs in the main ...

I've just watched the Jungles episode of the BBC "Planet Earth" series on the internet. The chimpanzees featured in the last segment (41:00 to 48:00) not only ate fruits (figs), they also eat other chimpanzees!

http://www.poetv.com/video.php?vid=20082

There is also a BBC article that says chimpanzees have also been observed to hunt with spears:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6387611.stm

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49. Comment #171706 by Enlightenme.. on April 28, 2008 at 5:46 pm

I so much want him to succeed!
Fantastic.

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50. Comment #171713 by shaunfletcher on April 28, 2008 at 5:55 pm

To those obsessing over this being 'mere mimicry', I would point out that we call that 'lear-ning' and its how we all got to know what we know. Or do you think your special brain figured out how to read from first principles?

Shaun

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