Are Female Chimps Redefining Our Understanding of Early Human Hunting?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the implications of female chimpanzees engaging in hunting behaviors, as reported in a news article. Participants explore how this behavior might inform our understanding of early human hunting practices and social structures, with a focus on the evolutionary and behavioral parallels between chimps and humans.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that only female chimpanzees are observed using sticks for hunting, raising questions about the implications for human hunter-gatherer models.
  • Others express excitement about the potential for teaching chimps weapon use, suggesting hypothetical scenarios involving chimpanzee or dolphin guerilla fighters.
  • There are comparisons made between the hunting behavior of chimps and their use of tools for foraging, indicating a progression from simple tool use to more complex hunting strategies.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the accuracy of media reports, citing a tendency for exaggeration in science journalism and emphasizing the need for official research to validate claims.
  • Discussion includes humorous and speculative remarks about the evolution of tool use, such as the leap from using sticks to more advanced weaponry.
  • One participant highlights the gender dynamics in chimp behavior, suggesting that the observed hunting practices may reflect social structures similar to those in early human societies.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus; there are multiple competing views regarding the implications of the observed behaviors and the reliability of media sources. The discussion remains unresolved with various interpretations and speculative ideas presented.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the reliance on media reports for initial claims, potential exaggeration of findings, and the need for further research to substantiate the observations of chimp behavior.

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Story on yahoo http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070222/sc_nm/chimps_hunting_dc

Note: it's only the females doing this. Any implications for our human hunter-gatherer model?
 
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Biology news on Phys.org
Holy Crap

This Is Awesome

Now - could humans teach chimps to use their weapons? Think of it - chimpanzee or dolphin guerilla fighters. ;-)
 
0TheSwerve0 said:
Story on yahoo http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070222/sc_nm/chimps_hunting_dc

Note: it's only the females doing this. Any implications for our human hunter-gatherer model?

If you think about it's not that much different from using twigs to dislodge grubs, it's a bigger stick and a bigger animal.

When they start using bows and arrows give me a shout :smile:

None the less a testament to primate ingenuity.
 
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uplift wars by brin coming true
 
I don't know... I wouldn't be surprised if it was true, the more we study chimps, the more we seem to find surprising intelligence in them.

But I wouldn't take it from Yahoo news (or any news paper for that matter) until i read some official research... the media tends to, not lie... exaggerate science stories.EDIT: p.s: this is unrelated, but there was an article in a recent Discover mag. that talked a little about how the media exaggerates science stories. it was the case of scientists who found some way to bend light around an object (I don't remember very well the details).
the media jumped on it right away, labeling it an "invisibility cloak," speculating armies being able to make entire buildings invisible using this technology... the actual device is huge, and is able to bend light only around a tiny piece of matter, making it "invisible." (I'm sure someone on this forum knows what I'm talking about better than I do :) ) ... it was a pretty funny article. in the interview they talked about how TV stations made them wear white cloaks and protective glasses to make them look more sciencey.
 
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Yeah, they weren't throwing them, they were stabbing with them, not quite a spear - more like a pointed stick.

As 'Ding's Dog points out, chimps use sticks to dislodge grubs and poke in termite hills.
 
0TheSwerve0 said:
Story on yahoo http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070222/sc_nm/chimps_hunting_dc

Note: it's only the females doing this. Any implications for our human hunter-gatherer model?

Its not a far step from coaxing grubs and ants onto a piece of straw and then eating them (which has been documented from observations of chimp behavior). Straw/spear/eat. Pretty obvious progression.
 
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baywax said:
Its not a far step from coaxing grubs and ants onto a piece of straw and then eating them (which has been documented from observations of chimp behavior). Straw/spear/eat. Pretty obvious progression.

By the same token, it's hardly a vast leap from big pokey stick, to throwing big pokey stick. (The space shuttle follows shortly after this!:bugeye: )
 
mosassam said:
By the same token, it's hardly a vast leap from big pokey stick, to throwing big pokey stick. (The space shuttle follows shortly after this!:bugeye: )

So that's how they do it! They tie the space shuttle to a stick and throw it out of the atmosphere! Cool:smile:
 
  • #10
As OThe SwerveO points out, it's interesting that only female chimpanzees use the big pokey stick for practical purposes. I believe this situation will truly reflect early human societies when the males use the big pokey stick on each other.
 
  • #11
0TheSwerve0 said:
Story on yahoo http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070222/sc_nm/chimps_hunting_dc

Note: it's only the females doing this. Any implications for our human hunter-gatherer model?
Are you sure Britney is with them?
:smile:
 
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  • #12
The OP link didn't work for me... youtube:

 
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  • #13
yep yahoo link is dead. in my locked thread there's another link with full video.
 
  • #14
What does this mean then? This means nothing. We have evovled from this exact same place as they are doing now and we would never let them have a chance to send us back there.
 

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