Mandrill Monkey Figures Out How To Get Some Space
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Humans have it quite easy. If they do not wish to be bothered, they either verbalize it, or better still, place a 'do not disturb' sign outside their rooms - But what's a poor monkey to do when it wants to be left alone?
Just ask Milly the mandrill monkey that resides at England's Colchester Zoo - She just covers her eyes with her hands when she needs some space - And, its seems as if other members of her clan have not only figured out what she means, but also, adopted the same technique themselves.
Milly, the only female among the 23-member strong community that resides at the Zoo first began using the gesture, when she was just three years old. While the Zookeepers noticed it, they assumed she was simply shielding her eyes from the sun.
It was not until Mark Laidre visited the Zoo in 2007, that Milly's simple gesture received any credence. Having observed mandrills in the wild for over five years, the California-based evolution biologist was convinced that the monkey was trying to convey something.
During his 100 hours of observing the behavior of the zoo monkeys he noticed that when any member of the clan loosely placed their hands over the eyes, they were not approached or touched by the other monkeys as much. The sign also seemed to work as a plea by monkeys that were being 'bullied' by some of the stronger members of the clan.
Since Mandrill monkeys are not known to imitate humans in the same way apes do, the researcher is sure that Milly did not pick the habit up from a visitor or zoo worker. Also, this kind of gesture has never been seen in the wild or at any other zoo, which leads Mark to conclude that the smart monkey came up with it, all on her own.
Mark believes that when Milly first performed the gesture, it's possible that she believed it hid her from the rest of the clan. When she reacted negatively at being touched, an association was possibly built between the gesture and the reaction, which is how it evolved into the 'do not disturb' sign. Pretty amazing - We wonder what other signs the smart monkey has come up with!
Mandrills, the largest member of the monkey species are also, the most colorful, with the face often sporting a red stripe in the center and blue ridges on the sides. They also have red nostrils and lips and yellow beards. Native to the Equatorial forests of Congo, Gabon, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, the omnivores are closely related to baboons and drills.
Resources: echo-news.uk, dailymail.co.uk
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145 Comments
- Nina Palmaabout 13 yearsAfter reading the three articles I think that the Mandrill monkeys are the smartest. I think that because they are the closest anilmals to humans. They put a sign outside there door that said please do no distirb. The monkeys cover there eyes from the bright sun. What anilmal does that? It was interesting to learn about the mandrill monkeys I hope the zookeepers or scientists figure out something new!
jocelynabout 13 yearsthis is funny- James L.about 13 yearsI think that the Mandril monkey is smarter than the dolphin because many people have been saying that dolphins can communicate with humans. THAT IS NOT TRUE! It said that the RESEARCHERS were the ones that made the computer so they can communicate with the dolphins. The dolphins did NOT come up with that! I disagree with Camryn H about what she wrote on both of the Monkey articles. The monkey was smart to make a hand gesture that it made ON IT'S OWN, to tell that she needed more space. Also, in the the other article, a monkey found a way to give itself pedicure ON IT'S OWN! I believe that monkeys are the ones that use their resources and make the best of it. They communicate in a smart way. I think that the Mandril Monkeys are WAY smarter than dolphins.
- Camryn Habout 13 yearsI think the dolphins are smarter than the mandrill monkeys. Dolphins are smarter because they can communicate with humans. I think what the mandrill monkeys do is not that smart because all they do is cover their eyes. They can cover their eyes for lots of reasons. It doesn't just have to be for having some space. That is the reason why I think dolphins are smarter than mandrill monkeys.
- brockabout 13 yearsmandrill monkeys are cool including when they need mark to examine the monkey. I learned that they are the smartest member of the pack. I do not want to ever work with them because they have sharp teeth. and they are dangerous. People who do work with them are brave. I learned a lot about mandrill monkeys.
- Ambika S.about 13 yearsI think that the Mandrill monkeys are smarter that the Spotted Dolphins and Bottlenose Dolphins. First of all, I think that the Mandrill monkeys are smarter than the two species of dolphins because one specfic Mandrill monkey came up with a sign to show that she wanted space. The Mandrill monkeys make that sign by loosely putting their hands over their eyes. A scientist named Mark Laidre saw that when a monkey made that sign the other monkeys did not approach or touch that monkey as much. He also saw that for monkeys that were being picked on, it was their way of saying to the others that they wanted to be left alone. The second reason why I think that Mandrill monkeys are smarter than the two species of dolphins is because a Mandrill monkey knew how to give himself a pedicure. Scientists find this important because it was a sign that they have the ability to create and use tools for purposes other than using tools that were essential to their way of life. In addition, they also saw that the monkeys could modify the tools that they originally used. For example, they modified the tool that they used for cleaning their ears to make something totally different. I used the two articles, "Mandrill Monkey Figures Out How To Get Some Space" and "Mandrill Monkey's Cure For Boredom - A Pedicure!" to support my answer to this question.
lala1234about 13 yearspoor animal it just wants to be left alone LEAVE IT ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!! :{- Anthony Linabout 13 yearsI think the dolphin is smarter. Because the dolphin knows how to use a computer.But the monkeys are smart to becauase they use thier body to show others that they want to be left alone. But I still think the dolphins are smarter. Because the monkeys do not know how to use computers.
- kinley12345about 13 yearsawsome my curent event
- Vincent Wabout 13 yearsI wonder when the first monkey was born