Science

Pictures Capture Young Gorillas Figuring Out How to Destroy Poachers’ Snares

In April, The Blaze brought you the saddening story of an orangutan that had tried to gnaw its own arm off after it became trapped in an illegal snare. Now, juvenile gorillas have been caught in the act of disarming similar traps set by poachers.

Not only that, but they worked together destroying it with such ease that researchers think they’ve been doing it for a while.

Researchers See Juvenile Gorillas Disarming Poachers Snares for the First Time

Disarming a snare (Photo: Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund)

“They were very confident,” Veronica Vecellio with the  Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s Karisoke Research Center told National Geographic of the event. ”They saw what they had to do, they did it, and then they left.”

The on the gorilla fund’s blog, Vecellio wrote earlier this week how they were able to capture this scene, which demonstrated “impressive cognitive skill”:

John Ndayambaje, our field data coordinator, reported that he saw one snare very close to the group; since the gorillas were moving in that direction, he decided to deactivate it. Silverback Vuba pig-grunted at him (a vocalization of warning) and at the same time juveniles Dukore and Rwema together with blackback Tetero ran toward the snare and together pulled the branch used to hold the rope. They saw another snare nearby and as quickly as before they destroyed the second branch and pulled the rope out of the ground.

Acknowledging there is still work to be done to prevent the snares from being set in the first place, the young gorillas seeming to have learned to identify and disarm the snares themselves is thought to be promising. The gorilla fund noted that just a couple days ago a gorilla was freed from such a snare in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park but died from the wounds.

Researchers See Juvenile Gorillas Disarming Poachers Snares for the First Time

Treating a juvenile gorilla days earlier that died from snare wounds. (Photo: Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund)

The blog points out that adult gorillas have been known to disable snares, but this is the first time the youth have been observed taking on the traps.

(H/T: Daily Mail)

Comments (100)

1 2
  • bluesdog
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 2:39pm

    He looks like he could be somebody’s son.

    Report Post »  
  • mokyfellow
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 2:34pm

    If we could only get one of these in the White House. The Stupidty level would really deacrease!!

    Report Post »  
  • januscatinhat
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 2:19pm

    Does seem they are proactive in trying to keep their young ones safe, so if they can why can’t we? Guess they care…

    Report Post »  
  • DebbieFisher
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 2:10pm

    Do any of you remember the report about the gorilla family that took a recreational tour of a human emcampment sometime last year? (HINT: I was the one who slipped in a word of credit to God for that episode.) I see some interesting parallels between the tourist encounter and this meeting between a couple of trap disarmament teams (Team Gorilla and Team Human). Both leaders exhibited excellent judgment, both sides showed at least some understanding and respect for each others’ manners. And in this case, the young gorillas seemed to wish to communicate, first, their ability to recognise and deal with the immediate danger of those traps, and second, that they apparently recognized the profound difference between their human enemies, the poachers, and their human friends, in this case, the people who provided this report.

    I insist all the more that the key to understanding the elements involved in this and related encounters between man and beast, can be found in the first three chapters of the first book of the Holy Bbile. The key word for what is involved in all of this is “relationships”. The opening chapters of Genesis lay out the design and the original practice of the multifaceted relationships between the Creator and His creatures, followed by the disaster which resulted in the world that we have today. Through all of the wreckage and gloom of our folly, God sends up these moments as yet another tool for trying to reach us, to save us from ourselves. Take

    Report Post » DebbieFisher  
  • PhineasJWhoopee
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 2:05pm

    This is a real nice feel good story. But I can’t help it, I call BS.

    Report Post » PhineasJWhoopee  
    • Czynik
      Posted on July 21, 2012 at 3:24pm

      Liberal scientists have a habit of seeing what they want to see if it conforms to their pet theory and not seeing what is politically incorrect.

      Report Post »  
  • OUTRIDER WRITER
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 1:17pm

    Gorillas are no more clever than foxes and that’s a fact.

    Report Post »  
    • Czynik
      Posted on July 21, 2012 at 3:27pm

      Or lab rats – but that is politically incorrect so they ignore that and substitute their own version of the facts. Not convenient for a poster to read “Lets spend millions to save an animal that is no smarter than a lab rat and can’t adapt to changes as well as a common monkey”

      Report Post »  
  • SquidVetOhio
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 12:59pm

    Now perhaps we can hire these apes to train Republicans to quit walking into Democrat traps!

    Report Post » SquidVetOhio  
    • Doris
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 2:53pm

      Good idea. Someone has to teach them.I am glad that they are learning this stuff, I hope it will save more of them.I cannot imagine why they kill them for profit. To make an ashtray?What next.

      Report Post »  
    • stablepar
      Posted on July 21, 2012 at 9:03am

      this may explain why dems cannot walk erect. they always appear crooked to me

      Report Post »  
  • Walkabout
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 12:51pm

    Huh?

    Report Post »  
  • lembrandt
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 12:20pm

    These primates are quite apparently smarter than your average liberal voter. The gorillas have actually figured out what the snare looks like and they work to destroy it…the liberal voter has NEVER figured out how liberal policies and bigger and bigger government have ensnared them.

    I’d rather have a household of gorillas move in next to me than a household of liberals…seriously.

    Report Post »  
    • SquidVetOhio
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 12:55pm

      Hilarious, and true!

      Report Post » SquidVetOhio  
    • Jwmajic
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 5:01pm

      The gorillas are less likely to defaecate in your front yard and hurl it at you. Ever see an OWS protest those are the real animals.

      Report Post »  
    • Roblongwood
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 10:19pm

      Yeah I had a herd of liberals move in next door to me. You should hear how loud they scream when they get caught in a snare!

      Report Post »  
  • AnimalsAsLeaders
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 11:12am

    Oh god! Their intelligence is growing at an exponential rate. THIS IS IT PEOPLE! THE END TIMES ARE HERE! LOCK YOUR DOORS, THIS IS THE BIG ONE!!!!!!

    Report Post » AnimalsAsLeaders  
    • TulsaYeeHaw
      Posted on July 22, 2012 at 4:50pm

      Animalsasleaders, have you not yet found Ceaser?! HE MUST BE ELIMINATED!!!!

      Report Post »  
  • RightThinking1
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 11:04am

    Now, if only the American electorate could learn to recognize the snares set by the left.

    Report Post »  
  • ThoreauHD
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 10:56am

    ROFL!!! You sank my battleship!

    Report Post » ThoreauHD  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 10:52am

    I’m sick of these Occupy Wall Street stories.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • pap pap
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 10:48am

    Cool.

    Report Post »  
  • Centurian
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 10:47am

    Apparently, gorillas can evolve…

    So, I guess this should give me some hope that liberals will evolve, as well, to useful members of society…

    Report Post » Centurian  
    • historyguy48
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 11:59am

      Comrade, that just won’t happen! No way, never! You have to have a brain to be a conservative and they just don’t!
      Just look at some of the really, really, stupid comments left by them on the Blaze!

      Report Post » historyguy48  
  • facilitiesmgr
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 8:54am

    RINGADINGDING,

    This is a stupid statement and highly offensive. You not only display your stupidity, you are greatly disrespectful in your condescending arrogance. “It is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt”. Proverbs 17:28

    Report Post »  
    • weismonger
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 7:58pm

      Religion is a belief in magic & we all know that magic does not exist. Not once in the last 14.6 billion years has any imaginary God or divine thingy ever interrupted the laws of physics or nature because someone offered up for prayers, burned candles, genuflected, rolled beads around, read bible verses, or danced around a fire naked beating on a drum. The religious function emotionally on a five year old level if they think that an imaginary friend or a sky god such as Jesus or God can change the consequences of their behaviors. Furthermore: There is not one single Christian text or writing in existence before the fourth century A.D. The old & new Testament books are forgeries, frauds & plagiarize previous religious Sumerian myths from 6000 years ago. The bible is also filled with more than 1000 Bible verses that says to kill nonbelievers & this is NOT taken out of context. It’s time to grow up & realize that we live in a real world & not a religious make believe world. The Founders of the United States realized this & created an ATHEIST Country…where NO American Citizen is forced by law to believe in or worship any god or religion. This country was founded on reality & that justice & human rights is only served through facts & laws based on scientific evidence & observations & NOT religious magic or self- hypnosis. It’s time to grow up & put childish religious myths away & realize that only YOU are in charge of your life & not some imaginary sky god.

      Report Post »  
    • highcarry
      Posted on July 21, 2012 at 5:56pm

      to weismonger. i’m not a particularly religious person, but i still believe to a point. i do believe there is a higher being than ourselves. the lakota called it skanskan. lots of people call it something else, but that is just interpretation. anyway, what i believe is that God put us here and gave us the blessing of free will. i don’t believe he has a hand in everything we do. he made us and said” theres good and bad. you better learn the difference.”that’s why this is such a crappy world.man has screwed up everything he touches.now, i believe that god made the vehicle or process for your creation just as he did mine. everybody’s. but we have the ability to make up our own minds. you have chosen to be an athiest. you weren’t born that, you chose it. but here’s the rub. you want religion gone for your own comfort. i don’t want atheism gone, because it really doesn’t affect me. but it seems like you just want folks to think your way. well, fact is, you don‘t know if you’re right.nor do i. but look at it this way. if i’m wrong, i don’t lose a thing. just had a little happier life. but if you’re wrong, you have an eternity to lose. so just lighten up a little. it really doesn’t affect you when folks think differently from you. i don’t remember a christian ever saying they hate atheists and want them gone. what i would say to an athiest is that someday i hope you can lose the fear , because that’s all it is. you don’t have to believe. just don’t be s

      Report Post » highcarry  
    • highcarry
      Posted on July 21, 2012 at 6:01pm

      went over. last words were “so afraid.’

      Report Post » highcarry  
    • TulsaYeeHaw
      Posted on July 22, 2012 at 4:51pm

      Hey weismonger, what were you doing 14.6 billion years ago?

      Report Post »  
  • paddy211813
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 8:51am

    Now that the research center and NG exposed that the gorillas have figured out how to release the snares to help save themselves, the poachers will figure out a new way to set them to make sure that they will ensnare them. How does this help these animals save themselves by exposing this.
    Where is the common sense that should have been used in this situation. There are times that we do not need to know everything for the safety of the animals they are trying to protect.

    Report Post »  
    • mcmeador
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 9:33am

      I’m pretty sure the poachers would have realized the ineffectiveness of their snares when they came back to find them all disabled.

      Report Post »  
    • tjgje
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 11:09am

      I agree, this was a stupid move to publicize the gorilla behavior because the poachers did NOT realize the gorillas were disabling their snares. The adult gorillas had already been disabling them for a some time and the poachers did not change their traps. This was the first time anyone had seen the young ones do it.

      Now, when the gorillas learn to set snares for the poachers, that will be a story!

      Report Post »  
    • jman-6
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 1:56pm

      You guys act like these poachers have regular access to tv n the internet to see this. Geeesh

      Report Post »  
    • judymac10
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 8:14pm

      McMeador I don’t think so, they probably fingered some bleeding heart human took them apart,
      not suspecting the gorilla’s had the wisdom to do it. More power to the gorillas and for them to teach their young how it is done, wisdom is passed on, don’t keep it to yourself.

      Report Post »  
    • mcmeador
      Posted on July 22, 2012 at 3:39pm

      Regardless of who they thought was disabling the traps, they would realize that the traps were not effective. If they decided to come up with a new method of trapping them, they would do it regardless of who was disabling them.

      Report Post »  
  • niki
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 8:45am

    This is great news. Poachers are evil and need to be stopped. Praise the lord for keeping these angels safe.

    Report Post »  
    • SquidVetOhio
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 12:58pm

      I’m glad their safe but those “angels” would chew your face off in a second!

      Report Post » SquidVetOhio  
    • Gums
      Posted on July 21, 2012 at 4:22am

      Are you talking about the poachers?

      Report Post » Gums  
  • Rashomon
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 8:45am

    maybe they could fix the post office.

    Report Post » Rashomon  
  • niki
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 8:44am

    You are an idiot. And you are obviously a liberal trying to make other liberals believe that this is what conservatives on people on the right believe. We aren’t as dumb as you. We didn‘t fall for obama’s lies.

    Report Post »  
  • nehemiahvision
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 8:39am

    OOOhh crap!, now they decide to “evolve” we are going to see silverbacks driving down the road in convertibles!
    In the next one milliongazillionthousend and hundred years they will run for office! wait and see…

    Report Post »  
  • The_Almighty_Creestof
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 8:29am

    Their next hurdle will be to learn how to buy pants that fit.

    Report Post »  
  • sw12
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 8:24am

    I believe these gorillas have been trained and placed back in the woods. At least the adult ones and they are teaching the young ones

    Report Post »  
  • HellAndBack
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 8:03am

    Anyone see Rise of the Planet Of the Apes??? Just sayin’

    This is awesome.

    Report Post » HellAndBack  
    • T-2
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 8:25am

      Caesar and his buddies.

      Report Post »  
    • Quiata
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 10:08am

      Super cool…yay gorillas!

      Report Post »  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 12:54pm

      This is the most interesting & uplifting story I have seen in a long time.

      Hopefully some researcher are getting the gorilla genome & doing comparative studies.

      Seeing that scientists have shown that orangutans have culture, I would like to see what they can do with rocks such as flint & the type they recently found at a Cape of Good Hope dig site.

      Report Post »  
  • historyguy48
    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 7:47am

    Comrades it’s almost a shame that they are such gentle creatures, otherwise they could dismember the poachers so they couldn’t set those traps.
    After all the work done with gorillas we should realize that they really aren‘t just dumb creatures but part of God’s plan!

    Report Post » historyguy48  
    • bluegrandma52
      Posted on July 20, 2012 at 5:30pm

      48, you are indulging in Disney-left-wing-feel-good-ism. These animals are highly dangerous when angered. The adult grunted at the researcher (a warning), and would have charged and perhaps attacked if the man didn’t back down and show deference to a leader. Animals are not empty vessels we can dump our feelings into; they are independent creatures with highly structured responses to threats. All of the great apes have been known to attack humans when provoked, and occasionally to attack and kill smaller apes and other animals and eat them. Don’t go all warm and fuzzy about them.

      Report Post »  
    • historyguy48
      Posted on July 21, 2012 at 4:15pm

      Comrade yes they are just dumb animals because everybody knows that highly evolved creatures like humans never kill another human, right?
      I beileve it was Dianna Fosse that lived and worked with gorillias for decades without any real problems. Have you ever wondered just why a policeman wears a gun?
      I don‘t give them any characteristics they don’t have, especially any silly Disney nonsense, but they aren’t just dumb creatures either.

      Report Post » historyguy48  
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