Reported by Babs, a babbling, babbity baboon babe---

MSN.com 12/08/00

STONE-THROWING BABOONS TAKE REVENGE ON DRIVER Stone-throwing baboons in Saudi Arabia waited three days on the side of a mountain road to take revenge on a driver who had killed one of their group.

Al-Riyadh reported on Saturday that the primates laid in wait and ambushed the driver on the same mountain road in southwest Saudi Arabia from Mecca to Taif where the baboon had been run down earlier in the week.

After spotting the car responsible for the death, one of the apes screamed out a signal to the rest to attack, provoking the frenzied stone throwing. Although the driver was able to escape, the apes broke out the windshield of his car.

At least 350,000 baboons live in the Gulf state.

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), December 08, 2000

Answers

Perhaps Mr Buble would make an excellent girl friend for one these baboons ; )

-- capnfun (capnfun1@excite.com), December 08, 2000.

Lars,

When I opened this, the first line I read was at least 350,000 baboons live in the Gulf state. At first, I thought the article was about Florida. LOL...

Sorry

-- (Sheeple@Greener.Pastures), December 08, 2000.

I don't know Capn, they sound like rough trade; I don't think Mr Buble is up to it.

Sheeple, there are more baboons in FL than that.

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), December 08, 2000.

I think Mr Buble is a perfect candidate for a baboon boy toy.

-- capnfun (capnfun1@excite.com), December 08, 2000.

Damn, now this brings a new meaning to the word REVENGE, dont it?

shhhheeeettttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Looks around and mutters "someone remind my ass to NEVER piss off a baboon, specially them in Florida".....hee hee

-- sumer (shh@aol.con), December 08, 2000.

Tool use.

Communication.

Planning.

Execution of plan (not to mention driver).

Extended memory of emotional state (anger/grief).

What is the major difference between animals and Man? I forget.

I gotta go take a peep at my goats...

-- helen (b@c.k), December 08, 2000.

I gotta go take a peep at my goats...

-- helen (b@c.k), December 08, 2000.

looks around and whispers to helen "go easy girl I hear them goats are as bad as them apes are".

Passes helen another round.

-- sumer (shh@aol.con), December 08, 2000.

Sheeple, Lars.....just wait 'til Unk sees this ;-)

(laughing so hard I can barely type.....)

-- Patricia (PatriciaS@lasvegas.com), December 08, 2000.

Helen-

I agree, it does give one pause, doesn't it?

I saw a documentary about Koko, the gorilla who learned sign language a few months ago. I was surprised by her ability to communicate. Koko had been raised in a zoo (if I remember correctly) but she had a mate who was rescued from poachers in Africa. They taught her mate sign language as well, and he was able to communicate what had happened to his band of gorillas. In very simple language, he described how his band had been slaughtered, saying that his mother had been slit from "girl hole" to "food hole". The fact that he could recall what had happened as a series of events and understand the significance of it shocked the hell out of me. I still don't like thinking about it, to be honest. It's great that they can understand, but it brings up all sorts of uncomfortable questions about the understanding of other animals. What if a cow could communicate?

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), December 08, 2000.

Just wanted to let everyone know that I am very aware of the irony of Tarzan talking about the communication abilities of apes!

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), December 08, 2000.

Tarzan, Koko's friend was Michael. Michael also saw the hunters eat his mother. He was very positive of this. I saw a video where he told the story in signs. I think he referred to being afraid and sad.

Laugh, 'sumer. The goats have horns. I've got one sworn to kill me...but the mule loves me, and he's bigger...but the mule doesn't have horns...what to do, what to do...

-- helen, armed and still outnumbered (b@c.k), December 08, 2000.

This is creepy...and am I the only one that remembers 'Planet of the Apes'?...hmmmm

-- Peg (pegmcleod@mediaone.net), December 08, 2000.

Patricia, you are SO right....

Unk, I don't count you as one of the 350,000 baboons which live in Florida. (smiles to herself knowing that there are more than 350,000 people in Florida, and Unk is one of the best)

-- (Sheeple@Greener.Pastures), December 08, 2000.

Tarzan....ROTFLMAO!!

I knew about Koko and the sign language, but I don't remember hearing about Michael. Now, I don't think I'll ever forget it.

-- Patricia (PatriciaS@lasvegas.com), December 08, 2000.