Primate Observation - San Diego Zoo
Mark Mariano
Professor Guenther
Anthropology 131
November 25, 2012
Primate Observation Primates are one of the most interesting mammals on earth, not only because of their complex social structures, but because they hold so many similar characteristics to humans. Primates are often cited as our closest living relatives and on two separate occasions I observed four separate species of primates at the San Diego Zoo that can justify their use of their physical characteristics and behaviors that may be similar as well as different to the other primates and ours.
The first group of primates I mainly observed were the Bonobos, also known as the pygmy chimps to many. On this occasion a youngster running around wildly on two legs and looking back as if something or another Bonobo was following him caught my immediate attention. I sat there observing him for about 5 minutes, he wasn’t paying attention at the observation windows as I was the only person there at the time, he was more focused on looking the back of him suspiciously. He was able to retain his balance and would use his left fist flat to the ground to hold hit body up when looking over this right shoulder. Suddenly he climbs down from a hill area down towards the glass and I noticed something in his right hand. He was holding a brown baby bunny that seemed to be alive. He observes the mammal in his hand with one hand and looks back again at another primate, which I can only assume was his mother or another older Bonobo in the exhibit. The youngster springs into action using bipedal locomotion and his free left hand to swing from the available branches in the ground to go toward the central part of the exhibit. Following him to the central part the youngster is found at the central cliff looking back as if the other Bonobo followed him. The bunny was out of sight as his hands were free at this point pacing in circles, as zookeepers we’re throwing fruits from a higher
Professor Guenther
Anthropology 131
November 25, 2012
Primate Observation Primates are one of the most interesting mammals on earth, not only because of their complex social structures, but because they hold so many similar characteristics to humans. Primates are often cited as our closest living relatives and on two separate occasions I observed four separate species of primates at the San Diego Zoo that can justify their use of their physical characteristics and behaviors that may be similar as well as different to the other primates and ours.
The first group of primates I mainly observed were the Bonobos, also known as the pygmy chimps to many. On this occasion a youngster running around wildly on two legs and looking back as if something or another Bonobo was following him caught my immediate attention. I sat there observing him for about 5 minutes, he wasn’t paying attention at the observation windows as I was the only person there at the time, he was more focused on looking the back of him suspiciously. He was able to retain his balance and would use his left fist flat to the ground to hold hit body up when looking over this right shoulder. Suddenly he climbs down from a hill area down towards the glass and I noticed something in his right hand. He was holding a brown baby bunny that seemed to be alive. He observes the mammal in his hand with one hand and looks back again at another primate, which I can only assume was his mother or another older Bonobo in the exhibit. The youngster springs into action using bipedal locomotion and his free left hand to swing from the available branches in the ground to go toward the central part of the exhibit. Following him to the central part the youngster is found at the central cliff looking back as if the other Bonobo followed him. The bunny was out of sight as his hands were free at this point pacing in circles, as zookeepers we’re throwing fruits from a higher