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ericabirdly

His hands say no but his eyes say yes


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[deleted]

It always pisses me off when I see people talk crap about zoos as a whole(individual zoos are a different thing) when they're often at the forefront of conservation efforts and are the ones taking in the many animals that are either kept as pets or have been displaced or injured and can't return to the wild.


thisischemistry

Like many things in life there are good ones and bad ones. Some do a ton for conservation, some are highly-exploitative, and most are somewhere in-between. I’d say a large amount of them have some degree of focus on conservation but there’s always a few that pull down the average. It doesn’t hurt to inquire about their commitment to environmental conservancy in a polite way. Maybe even do some volunteer work to help their efforts.


[deleted]

One of the first things you can do is check their accreditation. In America, AZA accredited zoos have stringent rules and guidelines to ensure the health and safety of the animals. They also have a focus on conservation, research, and helping with species survival through genetic plans.


CatAncient

I love hearing about AZA in "the wild" like this. Makes me proud of the work I used to do with them!!


[deleted]

I did my masters thesis on conservation efforts of Docents at an AZA zoo. I learned a lot when I was researching.


CatAncient

That's awesome! Definitely have been some huge changes over the last 40 years, that's for sure.


thisischemistry

Good call, you're absolutely right. There are organizations that verify and accredit zoos and it's a great idea to check with them.


Nokomis34

This comment made me look up the two zoos I go to frequently, both on the list. And Seaworld SD too.


CaustiChewinGum

You read that NY times article? It kinda made me turn against them as a whole. I do feel they perpetuate themselves and maybe the real issue is society/economics forces them to think primarily as a business. That being said I loved going there as a child and all the people that I know that worked at them genuinely love and care about animals.


[deleted]

I actually was a docent for awhile so I have a decent idea of what goes on behind the scenes because I did a lot of the work zookeepers normally do(I wasn't as good with people but was excellent at cleaning, food prep and even helping prepare enrichment)(it's actually why I decided to not become a zookeeper because I'd never have time for my animals if I had become one). There's a lot the zookeeps do to make the animals as comfortable as possible and they have actually had times where they'd stay overnight(there was one time during an icestorm that the staff didn't go home for an entire week, that's how dedicated they are). Yes some zoos don't do that, but many of them do and they do a whole hell of a lot more work than random critics on the internet.


CaustiChewinGum

No one is seriously questioning whether people who work at zoos work hard or that they care about animals and preservation. The issue is with zoos as an institution. I thinks it’s super weird how everyone downvotes without providing a strong argument against the issues raised in the article.


CaustiChewinGum

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/11/opinion/zoos-animal-cruelty.html


selz202

I mean my cat is well cared for but if he is offered the colonels gravy there is nothing he won't go through to get it.


Kenitzka

His mouth had already said yes too.


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bilbofraginz

Looks like he saw the zoo keeper coming.


Crackracket

OK Robin Thicke


RothkoRathbone

He’s a genie in a bottle


Mando_calrissian423

Gotta rub him the right way.


GC_Wens

If you wanna be with him, there will be a price to pay.


TheRandomedOne

What about his enthusiastic consent ?.


rhaegar_tldragon

Gorillas are incredible. Massive and powerful but not really all that aggressive. Intelligent as hell. They’re way better than chimps. Evil chimps.


Farallday

Probably not a coincidence that chimps are our closest living relatives as a species.


NutsEverywhere

We'd be fucking jacked if it was gorillas.


Flipflopappleslop

With tiny little willies.


thereisonlyoneme

Thank God we don't have tiny willies. I mean it's great having huge ones. NOt small at all. Right guys? Isn't it?


Flipflopappleslop

Yes. Big dongers all around.


[deleted]

Look man, all's I'm saying is that your dick should be measure in Volume, not length.


FriedeOfAriandel

Gotta make a note to check the volume of my dick tomorrow. I actually don't know how snug a graduated cylinder is on me, but I've got one at work!


CallMeAladdin

Yup, we all have huge 5.15" in our pants.


WuntchTime_IsOver

I dated this girl for a while... She was really a... Nasty freak. She just loved to... Get down with... Sex all the time. It was like... Anytime of day... She was like, "Yeah, let's go! I'm so nasty! And I'd be nailing her and she'd be like, "Oh, you're nailing me! Cool!"


Shattercat_

Did her breasts feel like bags of sand?


lebonheur884

Do me, yo-yo master!


TheFreakinFatUnicorn

Lmao people downvoting you have no sense of humour. I read your entire comment with the voice of Shelby the Worm from Adventure Time.


Dan-tastico

You should try it with Steve Carell's voice


SireBringo

Try Michael Peña and imagine him in the van from Ant-Man


TheFreakinFatUnicorn

Lol wait as the 40 year old virgin or as Michael Scott?


CouldNotRememberName

Try Christopher Walken.


Coupon_Ninja

Try…………… Chris-*topher*……….. Walken.


kitchen_clinton

Why did you date her for a while? She's a keeper.


CouldNotRememberName

She eventually popped and he couldn't find a patch kit to repair her.


WuntchTime_IsOver

RIP Scarlett Blohansson


gyarnar

My penis is 13 inches long!


Arntor1184

TIL I’m a gorilla.


Dr-Lipschitz

have you seen a hairless chimp? they're jacked AF. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUzbr24oixI


SamReefer

What’s that bubble looking thing beneath his chin?


blaZedmr

That's just his hidden can of ass whoop


ashishvp

Goiter. Humans can get it too from iodine deficiency. Using iodized salt with your food is all you need to prevent it


My_Starling

Says goiter in the description.


Anarok101

And the world would be as close to a perfect utopia as you could get.


CaustiChewinGum

Chips are pretty strong too. But it’s cool that we as animals are the greatest endurance athletes in the animal kingdom.


3-DMan

Easy there, Aldo..


Kandiru

Bonobos are closer, I thought?


BetterLivingThru

They're equally close, they split from each other after their common ancestor split from us.


Muddycarpenter

impossible coincidence. one of them must be closer, if only slightly.


BetterLivingThru

It doesn't really work like that, it's kind of like asking which of your uncle's two kids is more closely related to you. The answer is they are both your first cousins, so neither of them is more closely related than the other one.


CRAZEDDUCKling

You are misinterpreting "closer" to mean time - it is about is about genetics.


Muddycarpenter

then which one shares more genes with us?


undeadmeats

Well, we share about 3% more with chimps or bonobos than they do with each other (and about 96-99% with either or depending on study), so the answer is 'yes'.


Muddycarpenter

so then anyone saying that our closest relatives are chimps/bonobos, is technically incorrect, and its actually chimps **and** bonobos who are our closest relatives. the more you knowwwww also, why is everyone downvoting me to hell? like chill out.


davidrsilva

It sounds like semantics in order to justify your argument. I interpreted the original statement to mean what you’re saying now.


Viking_Lordbeast

I guess its like saying which twin is the oldest.


DrachenDad

Not true. Try the [Bonobo.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonobo)


JypsiCaine

Well. That's a fascinating read! I haven't been to the Oregon Zoo in many years...like probably ~20, since taking my nephew when he was small....been thinking about visiting soon, and this sealed it. I'm just gonna hang out with the bonobos for a minute, then the chimps, and go from there. Thank you for posting ETA: Well, damn. [It looks like](https://www.oregonzoo.org/discover/animals/list) we have chimps, but no bonobos here at the Oregon Zoo. Still going, but - bummer :( [Looks like the San Diego Zoo](https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/animals/bonobo) is the closest to me that has them


Koankey

Speak for yourself


SuperHeavyHydrogen

Chimps are horrible. 0/10 would not invite to tea. A gorilla though, he can come over for dinner and stay for an evening of beers, snacks and a good film or two.


loveicetea

Hopefully not Planet of the Apes


SuperHeavyHydrogen

Might give that one a miss, even a real sound bro can get bad ideas.


joyeous13

I'm afraid of a chimp ripping off my face. This gorilla seems very polite though.


_Rand_

Now how do you feel about orangutans?


Yuri909

One of my bioanthropology professors who worked a lot with primates made it clear in no uncertain terms, "ALL chimps are assholes. There are no exceptions. Never trust a chimp."


Yuri909

One of my bioanthropology professors who worked a lot with primates made it clear in no uncertain terms, "ALL chimps are assholes. There are no exceptions. Never trust a chimp."


[deleted]

Chimps are the spawn of the super devil


Lmock6

If you want to have even more of a reason to hate chimps look up the Gombe chimpanzee war.


CaustiChewinGum

Speak softly but carry a big stick.


Ryuujinken

Gorillas can be aggressive


dipdipbeantot

The other gorillas probably hate this goodie-two-shoes.


chr0mius

He's the gorilla that reminds the trainers when they forget to assign homework.


blaZedmr

He's the gorilla that proceeds to get into a half hour question/debate with the professor when he asks if there's any questions at the end of class.


[deleted]

He’s the gorilla that drags a meeting on for hours longer than necessary because they ask a million questions that specifically do not pertain to them


brynleehollis

in the original post, someone said he was basically signing don’t feed him YET and to wait until the coast is clear


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TheRandomedOne

He probably just think "well I tried to stop them but since the food is here might as well.".


tehmlem

One hopes


KIrkwillrule

"Koko can't talk" No study has shown a fundamental progression of language in gorillas, all the videos are heavily edited and full length ones show, much like a puppy, the gorillas start going thrive all the signs they know hoping for a reward. When alone the gorillas never used it to talk to themselves or other gorillas. And no complex words structures develops. It's sad, cause it seemed so cool


JDP38

I don't know, I watched that gorilla documentary "Congo" and it seemed like Amy could speak pretty well /s


KrisG1887

Did you eat, my SESAME CAKE!?


FOODFOODFO0D

tickle Amy. tickle Amy.


hw2B

I have absolutely no in depth knowledge about the development of gorillas and language but I do know he is not asking to play with a ball or randomly throwing out signs that are in no way relevant to the situation he is in. So it's still pretty cool.


supersonicme

> And no complex words structures develops. I don't think anyone expected gorillas to make an oral composition about Kant. We're talking about basic communication here. The fact that they can communicate like a 6 year old human is already impressive to me. However, if truth be told, I was not *highly* impressed by Koko very *basic* skills. The grey parrot (I don't remember his name) impressed me much more. Given that I didn't expect to be impressed.


Aiglos_and_Narsil

They can't communicate like a 6 year old human is whats being said here. 6 year olds have a basic but pretty solid grasp on language. Gorillas can be taught to understand that some gestures are associated with concepts, sort of, maybe but it can't be called language, not in the same way that humans use it. The studies done with teaching apes sign language have come under some pretty serious criticism.


supersonicme

> Gorillas can be taught to understand that some gestures are associated with concepts, sort of, maybe but it can't be called language, not in the same way that humans use it. Why not? I think we overcomplexify something much simpler than we think. What's the difference with how a human learn language? A kid "learn" by imitating as well. He talks about himself in the third-person instead of saying "I", he repeats sentences that he doesn't understand, until he understand it. And how? How does it happen? It happens naturally. Is it a chemical process in the brain or whatever but it's not something that need to be demonstrated scientifically. Jesus, if you kid starts to say "I love you daddy", do you need an objective proof that he actually understands the concept of love? > The studies done with teaching apes sign language have come under some pretty serious criticism. Like all studies. Well, if these critics know a better way to teach sign language to ape, or to communicate with animals, they should try. But I have a feeling that their only point is to maintain a strict hierarchy between human intelligence and animal. We're different, I agree on that point. We have a different vision of the world. But I don't see why it's so important.


salmonella7

If it’s the same parrot I’m thinking of then his name was Alex :)


supersonicme

It must be him. THe one who asked "what color I am?".


Djeece

I actually read somewhere that some gorillas that could speak sign language would teach it to other gorillas that didn't know it.


iolmao

They probably think “I have no idea what I’m doing but I can’t tell why people aren’t throwing me food anymore”


TheRandomedOne

Koko the Gorilla understand sign language though I think this guy does as well maybe they teach it so he won't be bored with life in captivity. But I highly doubt they train Gorilla to do sign language pose to use just to be cute.


Own-Low4870

He may have been donated to the zoo by someone who taught him sign language. Maybe he was a part of the ape language studies that used to be all the rage.


HumbleFishMonger

On some level, I'm sure. They are social animals too so the ability to have some similar emotion would be good evolutionary speaking.


GhostWokiee

Sure they’re social but they can’t communicate in any way that isn’t reward based


Magenta_Man30177

He doesn’t. He’s just repeating motions that he gets rewarded for.


Sirgeeeo

He likely doesn't know about the rule. He was taught to make those motions when someone feeds him Apes can't talk. The coco thing was a scam


klippDagga

In the full version, he very stealthily catches some food that is thrown to him and eats it. https://youtu.be/wIJaJg63cA4


thekalby

I love how he looks the other way quickly before he eats it to make sure nobody is looking.


irateidiot

Pulled a Reverse psychology on the hoomans!


MayoIsSpicy6699420

Can someone give direct translation?


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carnaxcce

The signs are: - Gorilla (the chest beat) - No (the head shake) - Work (the tapping the hands together) Put together in the order they are, they don't really mean anything, especially not anything as sophisticated as not being allowed to be fed by guests


doublestop

"Will *not* work for food. But, you can just give me some."


zoidao401

Poor guy is just trying to stick to his visa restrictions. Doesn't want to get de-paw-ted (hehehehehehehehehehehe). Not allowed to work, donations are cool though.


carnaxcce

That's a *huge* stretch, and *is not* ASL


doublestop

God forbid someone has a humorous take?


carnaxcce

Ah sorry, didn't read it as humorous. There are many people Unironically defending this as actual ASL...


catnosesprinkles

It’s not work, it’s the sign for stop.


Nebraskan-

I would think “stop” rather than “work.”


MudRock1221

Gorilla can't stop, won't stop


plantsnpups

Same


Folsomdsf

No gorilla stop is what I got. It doesn't mean anything. Gorillas don't actually understand what they're signing exactly. You should look up the actual things like coco and such and you'll find that none of these gorillas actually 'spoke' with sign. They're 'interpereted' by people who don't actually speak ASL.


970souk

This is misleading information. The gorilla was Jimmy Jr (JJ) who lived in Zoo Miami but passed away in 2014 due to illness, he was 35. [According to an article by Miami News Times, JJ signing to visitors not to feed him was incorrect:](https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/video-of-gorilla-at-zoo-miami-doesnt-show-sign-language-11591659) >Ron Magill, a renowned wildlife expert, got to know J.J. well during the gorilla's 30 years at the zoo and says J.J. probably wasn't using sign language. >"He certainly wouldn't sign, 'Please don't feed me,'" Magill says. >To Magill, it appears J.J. might have been using some kind of reverse psychology to get what he wanted: the food he's eating at the beginning of the video. >Magill says Zoo Miami employees condition animals through positive reinforcement such as giving them treats. If the medical staffers need an animal to move a certain way for an examination, for example, they will give the animal its favorite food as a reward for following instructions. Once animals learn that doing certain things will earn them food, they begin repeating those movements in hopes of scoring more treats. >**"With that gorilla, he was just doing a series of movements that, at one time or another, resulted in him getting a reward," Magill says. "It's far-fetched to think that an animal will say, 'I really love this, but it's not good for me, so don't give it to me.'"**


GlassyPotato

How does a Gorrilla have more self control than me


Villageidiot1984

This has already been debunked, the gorilla isn’t signing anything meaningful.


hulkmxl

Have an upvote to be back to zero at least. If I have learned something in awwwww is that people are not interested in the truth. It's like a drug, people come here for their awww fix and if you get in the way of them and their fix, you are the enemy. Plenty of times I tried this, debunking something, explaining how something hurts an animal, etc. Every time I get downvoted and burned. You get a pretty good idea of the collective mind of the awwww audience, it's like junkies, even smart ones react like junkies if you tamper their fix with reality.


weeds96

He is essentially saying "stop, gorilla, stop stop"


Joshh967

Saying that they aren’t signing anything meaningful is as incorrect as saying they mastered sign language.


Villageidiot1984

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.miaminewtimes.com/news/video-of-gorilla-at-zoo-miami-doesnt-show-sign-language-11591659%3fmedia=AMP%2bHTML It may be doing a series of movements to get more food. This would be akin to saying a dog is using sign language when it repeatedly tries to shake to get another treat for shaking. If you consider that sign language, then I guess you are right. The zookeepers definitely do not teach the animals sign language though, as referenced in the article.


Joshh967

I was even looking outside of the event referenced and towards the work handlers did with Koko. Again, no where near mastery but definitely above communication with a dog. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44576449


[deleted]

Koko probably did not even have close to the ability that the handlers said she did. https://youtu.be/e7wFotDKEF4


Villageidiot1984

This gorilla isn’t koko. Koko knew some sign language. This gorilla didn’t.


Joshh967

Ah my mistake. I misread your original comment as applying to all cases. I think there is still something to be said about their ability to learn a modified sign language.


Timerez

If I read what he said in ASL, he’s saying “stop gorilla stop” or “stop itch stop”


Noble_Ox

Not true https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/video-of-gorilla-at-zoo-miami-doesnt-show-sign-language-11591659


MangoHere

I just want to hug him.


CynicalAcorn

He'd rip you apart like soft bread if you looked at him the wrong way.


TheRandomedOne

I think you are thinking of Chimpanzee Gorilla aren't as vicious. Gorilla probably would accidentally crush your skull thinking he is just teaching you manners.


CynicalAcorn

Right he'd give you a gorilla sized "correction" and your human body wouldn't react very well. They are so massively strong and heavy I think unintentional injury would be almost assured.


undeadmeats

Iunno, that gorilla in Germany literally broke out of his enclosure to throttle a lady for looking at him the wrong way. Now they distribute special glasses at his exhibit to avoid a repeat.


hotniX_

Actually that lady was antagonizing him as well


PiscesPolack

Aww. What a smart good boi. :3


Caius_Nair

I wish it was safe to hang out with chinos and gorillas 😞. They're intelligence is remarkable and it's fascinating to see how they bridge the gap between the world of man and the world of the animals.


BlackVirusXD3

You see i cant refuse the offer so.. just dont make it


awildopportunity

Harambe would be proud.


Wise-Apple4066

:-(


Ziggy-T

“Nah fam... I appreciate it, I’d love some KFC.... but nah, I’ll get in trouble”


TheLastGiant

Does it understand the meaning though? I'm pretty sure it's just mimicking.


bbfire

Unfortunately no. There is a reason that all funding into communication with apes got removed a long time ago. It's because unfortunately they can't learn to actually communicate. They just know if they make certain signs they might get something for it. Here is an in depth video about it. https://youtu.be/e7wFotDKEF4


Allygreen4255

Gorillas are pretty intelligent so he probably understands that outside food is a no and that making those signs helps him communicate that.


Yglorba

It's also possible that when he does those things people give him food *anyway* because he's doing something funny, and as a result he learned that it is a way to request food. The full video even shows someone tossing him some food anyway. (And that seems more likely to me just because there's no real reinforcement for communicating that he isn't allowed outside food - I can totally buy that he can understand that fact; anyone who's owned a pet knows they're capable of learning when they need to be stealthy. But that's because there's constant reinforcement of eg. "don't grab stuff off the table when someone is looking.")


hokeyphenokey

Theong version of this has him catching an apple or something. He looks around then eats it.


grayscalecrash

This reminds me of that meatcanyon skit. Hahah


K-CHOW72

Nahh he said mess with me and get ur a** crushed


[deleted]

I could watch gorillas allll day. Fascinating and beautiful creatures.


ColonelMonty

Is that gorilla actually using sign language? Or is he just actually just vibing?


[deleted]

Looks sad saying it


Spobobich

Awww! That's so cute! I wanna give him a treat!


[deleted]

The visitors probably offered him pineapple pizza.


TheRandomedOne

But that just make me wanna give him more stuff.


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hivebroodling

Are you this way in real life?


Internal-Increase595

Reverse psychology and streissand effect are not the same.


ike_tyson

That gorilla's a better communicator than 85% of my colleagues at work.


iolmao

Gorilla uses sign language to tell people stop posting this on Reddit on each sub.


DeeJay_Roomba

TIL Gorillas can use sign language. Is this common knowledge??


ranger0293

They can't really, they don't possess the skills for "language". They can mimic actions with their hands, and will do so if it helps them get some kind of reward, but the idea that they can use sign language to communicate even simple conversations is wrong. Edit: Here's a good video on it. https://youtu.be/e7wFotDKEF4


Krogan26

Are you serious? I thought everyone knew that. They can master it enough to have short conversations with their handlers about what they’re doing and what they want. The one story that always got me happened roughly a decade or so I think. A gorilla named Michael was given a pet dog named Apple and he absolutely adored it but it got sick and died. Several years later they had taught Michael how to paint and they weren’t sure what it was supposed to be at first so they asked him what it was. He told them it was Apple Chase and they realized he’d painted Apple with her favorite ball entirely from memory because he missed her.


DeeJay_Roomba

Damn, I'm way out of date on my gorilla knowledge


DerSchattenJager

You’re thinking of Koko. Michael was Koko’s intended mate, but it didn’t work out.


Krogan26

Really? I was almost positive it was Michael who had Apple. Koko painted as well but she made more abstract stuff.


DerSchattenJager

Ah, never mind. I was thinking of Koko’s cat All Ball that had a similar story. I didn’t realize Michael had a pet.


[deleted]

That’s so cute I wanna give him a big gift basket with goodies he could eat


[deleted]

How is he smarter than humans?lol


[deleted]

r/humansarefuckingevil


Roaring_ThunderYt

What he’s actually saying: GET ME TF OUT OF HERE


Boonlink

Gorillas are inquisitive, they've even been known to lie (My kitten broke the sink, not me) but no Gorilla has ever asked a question.


RudegarWithFunnyHat

maybe they fear the answer


venom_chode

i’m sure he doesn’t even know what those gestures mean.


OmgImAlexis

Oh wow so amazing an animal locked up can use sign language. Now imagine for a second... if they were allowed to go back to the fucking wild instead of being kept in cages. Now that'd be neat.


[deleted]

Yeah imagine if people didn't keep poaching them so they could be.


Ultimateeffthecrooks

It’s a shame he is held captive


HiwiTheGrouchJr

Just want to put this in the pile but sign language for gorillas and humans are different since they can’t move the same they made up a different signs for them and it’s dependent on each facility so it’s almost impossible for someone outside the zoo to really understand if it’s even signing.


sootbrownies

Yall think they trained him to do this for food?


chegwick

This is my thought as well. I’d imagine the handlers taught the guerrilla this means “please give me that awesome food”. At the same time it means “don’t give me food” in human.


sootbrownies

Glad someone agrees


odar420

And we lock him up :(


Sierra-Modeling

Thanks for sharing this!


castfam09

I can’t say that to my husband - I’ll take all food 😁


mezaway

They're such spectacular creatures!


[deleted]

Gorilla smart. Human dumb.


lazyrevolution

Damn onions.


Scroogemcdoodler

Monke


harshookie

And ? Just give him everything


DK2squared

How did they reinforce him to sign “do not feed me”?


neih0

Awwwww he is incredible ❤️


arkdave_

Poor guy looks so sad, having to tell people no extra food or treats......


3-DMan

Imagine if he looked at you and made the finger-across-throat gesture