What do you think of the Gorilla recently filmed walking like a human?

What I think is interesting is that none of the other gorillas do it, but the walking gorilla’s father also stood and walked upright as do his two sisters.

Am I detecting the assumption that “evolution” in this case means “becoming more human-like”, implying humanity as the end result of evolution?

The question to ask is whether or not walking upright will serve a useful purpose for them. If it does, in their environment(s), then it might be useful evolution. Could just be wacky learned behavior.

I don’t know the answer to that @incendiary_dan! There would have to be genetic testing to determine if there was a genetic component.

I doubt it was learned behavior, though, because none of the other gorillas in the enclosure with him has started doing it.

“Do you think this is a step in evolution happening before our very eyes?”

No. It’s a learned behavior, as the article makes fairly clear (it really doesn’t matter that the others haven’t done it.) Something similar has been seen in wild chimpanzees, who learned to make loud dominance displays with metal cans, which thereby increased their social status.

In addition, evolution occurs only in populations, not individuals. It can be considered a “step” if it increases his mating opportunities, and he passes on genes to his offspring that perhaps influence learning, and those genes spread. But that’s very unlikely in a zoo situation.

What a fascinating video! I wonder if there will be Bigfoot sightings in the UK now…

I agree that it’s a learned behaviour. I would imagine that all it really takes is a great sense of balance. Until gorillas start walking around all over the place like humans walk, I doubt it’s any sort of evolutionary thing.

@Seelix thats what I was thinking; wouldn’t be awsome if gorillas everywhere just started to walk!? I think it’s amazing. If you put a pair of genes and a shirt on that guy he’d be like a very hairy man from a distance….and a very attractive man at that…Messing!

@lemming – I’d pay to see a marching gorilla army.

@Seelix lol!

Pretty cool. Makes perfect sense.

@Seelix link

@IWillDrinkYourBoneMarrow – Okay, I take it back. I wouldn’t pay to see Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, because we already own it (on VHS, but still).

@Seelix Automatic cool points for owning that classic :)

It goes both ways. I’ve seen pictures of people who were born with hair all over their entire body.

It’s further proof that our simian brethren are well on their way to becoming out simian masters. If watching that clip doesn’t terrify any of you, you all need to open your eyes.

monkeys are the devil

I think it’s an actor that got lost during the filming of Congo. He wore the suit so he wouldn’t be attacked by the other gorillas. Then he got picked up and dropped in the zoo where he realized he could eat for free if he kept his mouth shut.

He is going to need shoes with good arch supports.