Comments for Searching for Bonobo in Congo http://www.bonoboincongo.com Field notes from Dr Terese Hart Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:56:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Comment on Lessons from the Lomami by cleve hicks http://www.bonoboincongo.com/2012/01/21/lessons-from-the-lomami/comment-page-1/#comment-1970 cleve hicks Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:56:21 +0000 http://www.bonoboincongo.com/?p=2234#comment-1970 Thanks so much for sharing this ... it perfectly expresses the joy of discovery deep in the green bonobo heartland! Thanks so much for sharing this … it perfectly expresses the joy of discovery deep in the green bonobo heartland!

]]> Comment on Celebration and Mourning in Kinshasa by Tan T. http://www.bonoboincongo.com/2011/10/19/celebration-and-mourning-in-kinshasa/comment-page-1/#comment-1967 Tan T. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:01:02 +0000 http://www.bonoboincongo.com/?p=2170#comment-1967 RIP guards Muhindo, Mastaki, Kambale, and James, and all others who bravely did their jobs to protect people and wildlife. Thanks to them and thanks to all other people, armed or unarmed that bravely stand up for what's right. RIP guards Muhindo, Mastaki, Kambale, and James, and all others who bravely did their jobs to protect people and wildlife. Thanks to them and thanks to all other people, armed or unarmed that bravely stand up for what’s right.

]]> Comment on Lessons from the Lomami by Bruce Pigozzi http://www.bonoboincongo.com/2012/01/21/lessons-from-the-lomami/comment-page-1/#comment-1966 Bruce Pigozzi Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:15:29 +0000 http://www.bonoboincongo.com/?p=2234#comment-1966 I've been using John's Mbuti data for my intro quant methods for more than 30 years... just thought I'd say Hi. Bruce I’ve been using John’s Mbuti data for my intro quant methods for more than 30 years… just thought I’d say Hi.
Bruce

]]> Comment on Lessons from the Lomami by Brenton http://www.bonoboincongo.com/2012/01/21/lessons-from-the-lomami/comment-page-1/#comment-1965 Brenton Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:01:47 +0000 http://www.bonoboincongo.com/?p=2234#comment-1965 Wonderful blog. Thank you so much. Wonderful blog. Thank you so much.

]]> Comment on BUSHMEAT 11: Bonobo for dinner? by Terese Hart http://www.bonoboincongo.com/2010/10/12/bushmeat-11-bonobo-for-dinner/comment-page-1/#comment-1964 Terese Hart Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:18:02 +0000 http://www.bonoboincongo.com/?p=1799#comment-1964 I am glad and relieved that the last two comments give an alternative, and I feel much more Human (!), perspective than the first two comments. I am glad and relieved that the last two comments give an alternative, and I feel much more Human (!), perspective than the first two comments.

]]> Comment on BUSHMEAT 11: Bonobo for dinner? by Gabe Hanken http://www.bonoboincongo.com/2010/10/12/bushmeat-11-bonobo-for-dinner/comment-page-1/#comment-1963 Gabe Hanken Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:52:43 +0000 http://www.bonoboincongo.com/?p=1799#comment-1963 Wow I am appalled at the responses in the above comments. First I would like to preface all of the following with the fact that I know Africa is a long ways from us in the west and it has many many deep rooted issues, that will not be solved overnight. To the first asinine poster , great apes are not humans this is true. However THEY ARE our closest relatives I ask you to refute this with any kind of real rational logical answer. The fact is the ARE out closest relatives, and I for one am a lot more proud to have a bonobo as my closest relative then the the so called " inbred humans from Kentucky on the left hand side of your family tree. The 2-6% difference in genetics is a large difference I agree. Somehow equating "worth" to this 2% difference is stupid. There are many many many human beings I am embarrassed and sad to have as part of my species, rapists, murderers, war mongering W.A.S.Py politicians that are half sociopath half psychopath to me have little to no worth, but according to your equating this 2% genetic difference makes these "Humans" worthy of being so called the "top species". From working with great apes daily I have learned first hand these animals Chimpanzees- Orangutans- Bonobos are capable of FAR FAR FAR more advanced social functioning and concepts then most humans I know. When it comes to memory , photographic, numeric , spoken and all Chimpanzees kill almost every human on this planet. There are some 35 different areas found by scientists- NON-BIASED work shows that each of these great apes have certain traits and skills that are far more advanced then "humans" . ALL YOU 2 Posters would need to do to see this is spend a week observing any of these great apes and you will find out really damn quick they are not merely "COPIERS" or sorry not innovators but imitators . That line almost pissed me off as much as the fact you claim Chimps cannot be traumatized like humans. It makes my blood boil even typing that line. I HAVE PERSONALLY SEEN BABY ORANGUTANS WHOSE MOTHERS WERE SLAUGHTERED AND EATEN- STARVE THEMSELVES BY SHEER WILL FROM THE DEPRESSION OF LOSING ITS MOTHER. I have seen this in Chimps and Orangutans, and let me tell you there is nothing more sad then a infant losing its will to live and actually becoming so depressed it dies. FOR THAT MATTER I have see documented cases of infant Chimpanzees being seperated from there mother commiting SUICIDE , yes you heard me . It has been documented several times, it has happened in Oklahoma on one of the chimp islands , since the opening and thanks god closing of this facillity they had 2 suicides and 2 murders . An adult chimp throwing another into the middle of a river, and chimps know very well they are too dense to swim. As the chimp thrown in the water is trying to get back out the one who threw them in is holding it head under water. This is not going to score brownie points with my cause, but you cannot tell me they do not experience human like emotions. I've seen jealousy, anger, happiness, thankfulness, disgust, joy, ive seen chimpanzees so horribly treated it would make even you sad, forgive people. How about a chimp with half it brain removed, still able to love the humans that were responsible. Or in the seventies I know one chimp in particular who repeatedly had a solid iron ball smashed against his mouth and teeth repeatedly until all of the teeth fell out and jaw was broken- and you know WHY ? Because a dentistry school needed a human like analogue to repair this kind of damage, they needed the practice for a case study. Now you tell me it is not a miracle that this same chimp has forgiven most all the people that had done this to them. Just there capacity for forgiveness is enough for me. Taking all the money and food from these sanctuaries and putting it towards humans is not going to fix the starving human problem. And furthermore just because there are starving humans THIS DOES NOT NEGATE THE FACT THAT ALL GREAT APES DESERVE TO LIVE the best life possible for them , not abused, not starving and certainly not on a dinner plate. I do agree with you that humans starving is a huge problem, and it is very sadbut this is a human controlled world, setup by humans made for humans. I feel less sorry for a human not making it in this world , then a great ape FORCED to live in our world. A great ape cannot get a job, get into a car and drive to a "better" place to make money. They cannot stay fed (unless in there native forests) You bring a chimp into are society they are helpless Totally. Humans are not at all a human can drive somewhere else to get a job. They can steal lie and cheat there way into a meal/ A chimp cannot. A child cannot. But all humans over 15 can, and there are extreme situations, but humans are not helpless in this society like chimps are or would be. Dont get me started on the second poster who thinks it is OK to eat great apes- I won't even venture a response. Gabe Wow I am appalled at the responses in the above comments. First I would like to preface all of the following with the fact that I know Africa is a long ways from us in the west and it has many many deep rooted issues, that will not be solved overnight.
To the first asinine poster , great apes are not humans this is true. However THEY ARE our closest relatives I ask you to refute this with any kind of real rational logical answer. The fact is the ARE out closest relatives, and I for one am a lot more proud to have a bonobo as my closest relative then the the so called ” inbred humans from Kentucky on the left hand side of your family tree. The 2-6% difference in genetics is a large difference I agree. Somehow equating “worth” to this 2% difference is stupid. There are many many many human beings I am embarrassed and sad to have as part of my species, rapists, murderers, war mongering W.A.S.Py politicians that are half sociopath half psychopath to me have little to no worth, but according to your equating this 2% genetic difference makes these “Humans” worthy of being so called the “top species”. From working with great apes daily I have learned first hand these animals Chimpanzees- Orangutans- Bonobos are capable of FAR FAR FAR more advanced social functioning and concepts then most humans I know. When it comes to memory , photographic, numeric , spoken and all Chimpanzees kill almost every human on this planet. There are some 35 different areas found by scientists- NON-BIASED work shows that each of these great apes have certain traits and skills that are far more advanced then “humans” . ALL YOU 2 Posters would need to do to see this is spend a week observing any of these great apes and you will find out really damn quick they are not merely “COPIERS” or sorry not innovators but imitators . That line almost pissed me off as much as the fact you claim Chimps cannot be traumatized like humans. It makes my blood boil even typing that line. I HAVE PERSONALLY SEEN BABY ORANGUTANS WHOSE MOTHERS WERE SLAUGHTERED AND EATEN- STARVE THEMSELVES BY SHEER WILL FROM THE DEPRESSION OF LOSING ITS MOTHER. I have seen this in Chimps and Orangutans, and let me tell you there is nothing more sad then a infant losing its will to live and actually becoming so depressed it dies. FOR THAT MATTER I have see documented cases of infant Chimpanzees being seperated from there mother commiting SUICIDE , yes you heard me . It has been documented several times, it has happened in Oklahoma on one of the chimp islands , since the opening and thanks god closing of this facillity they had 2 suicides and 2 murders . An adult chimp throwing another into the middle of a river, and chimps know very well they are too dense to swim. As the chimp thrown in the water is trying to get back out the one who threw them in is holding it head under water. This is not going to score brownie points with my cause, but you cannot tell me they do not experience human like emotions. I’ve seen jealousy, anger, happiness, thankfulness, disgust, joy, ive seen chimpanzees so horribly treated it would make even you sad, forgive people. How about a chimp with half it brain removed, still able to love the humans that were responsible. Or in the seventies I know one chimp in particular who repeatedly had a solid iron ball smashed against his mouth and teeth repeatedly until all of the teeth fell out and jaw was broken- and you know WHY
? Because a dentistry school needed a human like analogue to repair this kind of damage, they needed the practice for a case study. Now you tell me it is not a miracle that this same chimp has forgiven most all the people that had done this to them. Just there capacity for forgiveness is enough for me.
Taking all the money and food from these sanctuaries and putting it towards humans is not going to fix the starving human problem.
And furthermore just because there are starving humans THIS DOES NOT NEGATE THE FACT THAT ALL GREAT APES DESERVE TO LIVE the best life possible for them , not abused, not starving and certainly not on a dinner plate.
I do agree with you that humans starving is a huge problem, and it is very sadbut this is a human controlled world, setup by humans made for humans. I feel less sorry for a human not making it in this world , then a great ape FORCED to live in our world. A great ape cannot get a job, get into a car and drive to a “better” place to make money. They cannot stay fed (unless in there native forests) You bring a chimp into are society they are helpless Totally. Humans are not at all a human can drive somewhere else to get a job. They can steal lie and cheat there way into a meal/ A chimp cannot. A child cannot. But all humans over 15 can, and there are extreme situations, but humans are not helpless in this society like chimps are or would be.
Dont get me started on the second poster who thinks it is OK to eat great apes- I won’t even venture a response.
Gabe

]]> Comment on OKAPI – a Memory in Film from the Ituri by Jennie DePlacito http://www.bonoboincongo.com/2007/09/21/okapi-a-memory-in-film-from-the-ituri/comment-page-1/#comment-1962 Jennie DePlacito Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:19:15 +0000 http://lomami.wildlifedirect.org/2007/09/21/okapi-a-memory-in-film-from-the-ituri/#comment-1962 I have loved watching par tof the Heart of Lightness. Especially after reading the Heart of Darkness in college and learning more about the sadness and destruction that ethnocentrism often brings. Even if it is not thought to be a problem, most people are sadly ethnocentric. I lived on a Native American reservation for awhile as a child and it really opened up my eyes to the realities of this world. And the beauties of humanities differences. Your family understands this well, I see from the video. I have lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and been to South Africa twice, and would love to learn more about the Congo. Hope to hear from you! Thanks for your time! I have loved watching par tof the Heart of Lightness. Especially after reading the Heart of Darkness in college and learning more about the sadness and destruction that ethnocentrism often brings. Even if it is not thought to be a problem, most people are sadly ethnocentric.
I lived on a Native American reservation for awhile as a child and it really opened up my eyes to the realities of this world. And the beauties of humanities differences.
Your family understands this well, I see from the video. I have lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and been to South Africa twice, and would love to learn more about the Congo. Hope to hear from you! Thanks for your time!

]]> Comment on Okapi Dung along Congo’s Lomami River by Stephanie Rupp http://www.bonoboincongo.com/2011/09/29/okapi-dung-along-congo%e2%80%99s-lomami-river/comment-page-1/#comment-1961 Stephanie Rupp Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:51:50 +0000 http://www.bonoboincongo.com/?p=2150#comment-1961 Dear Terese, It's wonderful to find your amazing blog, and to see that for you and John the adventures continue! And for the wildlife of Congo, it's wonderful that your hard work continues, too -- of course! Kudos! I am wondering whether and how I might be able to send you and John a copy of my book, which has finally been published. (It is based on my dissertation, in SE Cameroon. But of course, it all began under your roof, in the Ituri Forest, so long ago!) Is there a chance I could mail it to you before you head back to Congo? It would be wonderful to be back in touch again! All best wishes for a happy new year! Stephanie Dear Terese,

It’s wonderful to find your amazing blog, and to see that for you and John the adventures continue! And for the wildlife of Congo, it’s wonderful that your hard work continues, too — of course! Kudos!

I am wondering whether and how I might be able to send you and John a copy of my book, which has finally been published. (It is based on my dissertation, in SE Cameroon. But of course, it all began under your roof, in the Ituri Forest, so long ago!) Is there a chance I could mail it to you before you head back to Congo?

It would be wonderful to be back in touch again!

All best wishes for a happy new year!

Stephanie

]]> Comment on Pigeons’ Progress in Congo’s Forest by Anil Chandolia http://www.bonoboincongo.com/2010/08/18/pigeons-progress-in-congos-forest/comment-page-1/#comment-1960 Anil Chandolia Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:32:03 +0000 http://www.bonoboincongo.com/?p=1749#comment-1960 Stop hunting Treron (Green Pigeon) http://www.care2.com/create/edit-petition/952516264 Stop hunting Treron (Green Pigeon)
http://www.care2.com/create/edit-petition/952516264

]]> Comment on TL2′s Birds : 255 and Counting in Central Congo by Andrew Bernard http://www.bonoboincongo.com/2011/12/04/tl2s-birds-255-and-counting-in-central-congo/comment-page-1/#comment-1957 Andrew Bernard Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:52:11 +0000 http://www.bonoboincongo.com/?p=2204#comment-1957 Hi Adam, Thank you for your comments. I share your concerns about the need for high standards for these surveys, and to keep the risk of death or injury to birds as low as possible. We closed nets when rain or other bad weather threatened and we checked furled nests after dark to be sure nothing was caught by accident. In a typical netting day, covering 10-12 hours, we passed each of the nets 13 to 15 times (30-45 minutes between visiting each net). The incident I referred to with the safari ants was, thankfully, isolated. We had no indication that ants were in the area. The bird that was attacked likely spent less than half an hour in the net before being found by the ants. We closed this net after this incident until the ants had cleared. I’d be interested to learn more about your work, the species and environments you work in. How did you come across my report? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any further questions. Hi Adam,

Thank you for your comments. I share your concerns about the need for high standards for these surveys, and to keep the risk of death or injury to birds as low as possible. We closed nets when rain or other bad weather threatened and we checked furled nests after dark to be sure nothing was caught by accident. In a typical netting day, covering 10-12 hours, we passed each of the nets 13 to 15 times (30-45 minutes between visiting each net).

The incident I referred to with the safari ants was, thankfully, isolated. We had no indication that ants were in the area. The bird that was attacked likely spent less than half an hour in the net before being found by the ants. We closed this net after this incident until the ants had cleared.

I’d be interested to learn more about your work, the species and environments you work in. How did you come across my report?

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any further questions.

]]>