Anne Russon, a cognitive ecologist and professor of psychology in 91亚色鈥檚 , spoke about orangutans鈥 ability to communicate using mime, on CBC Radio鈥檚 鈥淨uirks & Quarks鈥 Sept. 18.
You can listen to Russon's interview with host Bob McDonald on .聽 The interview begins at the 1:30 mark.
Russon has observed 18 cases of orangutans in Borneo using mime to communicate both simple and complex messages.聽 In one example, an orangutan asked a researcher for help cracking open a coconut by acting out the motions required.聽 Another wanted to share the memory of having had a researcher remove a sliver from a foot by repeatedly miming the action.聽 It is thought that this form of communication among these great apes could provide a clue to the origins of human language.
Related Links, courtesy of CBC online:
- in Biology Letters
- Original news release from the Research Website
- (with video of the coconut incident)
Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, with files courtesy of YFile鈥 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.