francene--blog. Year 2013
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August 18th

8/18/2013

 
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As mankind advances further and further over the Earth, nature retreats, dwindles and in some cases becomes extinct. The latest news shows a case in point.

Macaque monkeys are in danger of losing their unique tool-using skill because of human development.

Long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) feed opportunistically in many habitats. They live in the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Burma, India, Vietnam, and Cambodia. The Burmese subspecies inhabits coastal areas in southwestern Thailand and Myanmar, and some of their populations have adapted using stones for opening shells by the sea.


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Scientists found that illegal palm oil and rubber plantations in Thailand are disrupting the monkeys' feeding behavior. Dogs used to protect the prohibited farms are repelling the macaques from the shoreline, which inhibits their tool-using activities.

The report in the international journal of conservation comes almost a decade after the first scientific description of tool-use among capuchin monkeys in South America. Researchers have been monitoring these monkeys on the Laem Son National Park, on the Andaman sea coast of Thailand, since 2007. They found that 88% of around 200 adults use stones to crack open hard-shelled invertebrate prey, including rock oysters, sea snails and crabs.
It is a rare skill set.


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In addition to chimpanzees in Africa, the Burmese long-tailed macaques are the only primates known to use stone tools. If dogs repel those living in Piak Nam Yai island, Laem Son National Park, Thailand, the monkeys will visit the shore less and less. When they stop using tools in this way, scientists fear the monkeys will cease learning.

The study shows that all across South East Asia, there is a growing problem of macaques becoming acclimatized to living around people and becoming dependant on humans for food. Scientists are worried that these skilled monkeys could seek the same way of finding food.

I sometimes wonder what the end result of mankind's domination will be. Perhaps humans will imprison every animal or bird used for food and kill off anything they consider unnecessary. I wouldn't want to live in that world.


Linda Hampton link
8/17/2013 11:16:05 pm

I a little bit scary to think about all that's happening to our environment. And what will happen if too many changes occur. Hopefully God made man smart enough to stop before it too late.

Francene Stanley link
8/18/2013 03:04:31 am

I share your hope that man is smart enough to stop the nonsense.

Alana link
8/18/2013 12:12:26 am

It really disturbs me when I read about animals becoming dependent on humans for food. Parts of our country, including a housing development in Florida where a high school friend lives, have become plagued by black bears displaced by development who raid garbage bins and otherwise cause a lot of problems for residents. That is just one example.

Francene Stanley link
8/18/2013 03:11:57 am

By being dependant, the animals forget their former skill of providing for themselves. The bears sound terrifying.


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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