Gorilla Killed After Child Falls Into Zoo Habitat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUCfY270l7k
Jambo och gorillajakt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N05CItceEdg
Urban Gorilla and surch for gorillas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N05CItceEdg
Harambe Gorilla drags 3-year-old in shocking video (CNN)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SETvstQquVI
Harambe was Heroic - RIP (Harambe, Jambo, Biti Jua)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2Wd-1euBF8
Professor Emily Bethell (primate behaviorist): "He was clearly being protective towards the boy. There were no signs of the gorilla being aggressive in the sense that he wanted to hurt the boy or anything like that. The biggest threat to the boy I would say is obviously when the gorilla moved and dragged him, that could have caused some harm, but the gorilla’s body language is definitely protective."
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/gorilla-trying-kill-protect-boy-8087981
Professor Gisela Kaplan (primate behaviorist): "I can tell you silverbacks are protectors of their group. If there’s an unusual thing happening, (Harambe) needs to investigate. The fact that he went over to the child is absolutely natural behaviour but it doesn't mean he was aggressive. If he was going to attack he would’ve warned him first. The first thing they do is charge and beat their chests and as far as I know that didn’t happen."
https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/animal-behaviour-expert-says-silverback-gorilla-harambe-was-not-trying-to-harm-defenceless-child/news-story/94d83332fbb86df234989f66ae621d67
Professor Frans De Waal (primatologist): "Seeing more of the videos, I got the impression that Harambe was mostly protective. He showed a combination of protection and confusion. He stood over the child, held him up, moved/dragged him through the water (at least once very roughly), stood over him again. Much of his reaction may have been triggered by public noise and yelling. There was no moment of acute aggression, as also admitted by the zoo director. If the gorilla had wanted to kill the child, one bang of his fist would have done it. People have no idea of their superhuman strength. Yet, he didn’t perform any killing move. I should also clarify, since people on Facebook have said that gorillas are dangerous predators, that this is entirely wrong. A gorilla doesn’t look at a human child as something edible. [...] The one thing that reliably makes a gorilla male mad is another male who enters his territory or gets too close to his females and young. Harambe surely knew that he was not dealing with competition, hence had no reason to attack."
https://www.facebook.com/notes/frans-de-waal-public-page/rip-harambe/10154127508562200
Richard Johnstone-Scott (gorilla keeper for 46 years): "It looked quite scary. But I understand that he was actually pulling the child away from where the people who were shouting and screaming out of concern for the little chap, he pulled him away from that area. And then when he stopped, it seems to me that he helped the boy to his feet, which was quite amazing. From what I can see on that film, I don’t think that Harambe meant to hurt that child. If he had intended to hurt that child it would’ve been over in seconds. It would’ve been wham, bang, and that would be the end of it."
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article80855652.html
Harambe was raised from birth by Jerry Stones, who after his killing said: "He was not mean. He was a gentle little guy. He grew up to be a beautiful animal. But he was never aggressive, he was never mean."
http://youtu.be/cl3tutFqg-E?t=47s
Stones said the onlookers terrified by Harambe, "didn't know who he was."
http://youtu.be/CXG3mq9yfCA?t=40s
Harambe was hand-raised by humans, and the man who knew him best, from his birth in 1999 until he left Gladys Porter Zoo in 2014, said he was never aggressive.
https://www.facebook.com/gladysporterzoo/photos/a.408296022454.193125.60684157454/10152273789327455/0000
Pacarana Bathing In The Wild - No soap!
Pacarana tomando um banho natural - sem sabão
What you are seeing is a Pacarana in its natural habitat displaying normal behavior.
This cute little fellow is a young pacarana next to a river in Peru. Sightings are very rare and until recently very little has been known about their natural history and behavior.
So, it is understandable that the viral 'shower rat' video has caused confusion even among zoologists.
The pacarana is a little-studied rodent found on the eastern slopes of the Andes and adjacent Amazonia.
In Peru they are known locally as ‘machateros’ meaning ‘machete wielders’ due to their very large front teeth which they use to fell plants to reach the fruit.
Their scientific name ‘Dinomys Brackickii’ means “terrible mouse” which is a misnomenclature as they are naturally docile and affectionate contact animals.
Pacarana have been found to make tame and affectionate pets even choosing to sleep curled up on people’s laps*. British zoologist Karl Shuker notes that “…They actively seek out their human visitors to nuzzle them and rub themselves against their legs almost like cats, or even to be picked up and carried just like playful puppies.”
We understand that concerns have been raised that the pacarana in the misnamed 'Shower Rat' video may be exhibiting unusual movements that suggest discomfort. Please observe this clip of a pacarana in its natural habitat performing exactly the same actions.
When not wet pacarana resemble gigantic guinea pigs and are the third largest rodent worldwide. They can grow to almost a meter long and weigh up to 15 kg (more than 30 lbs).
This clip shows Pepe Lucho the famous "Machetero of Chanchamayo", a beloved celebrity in the province:
http://bit.ly/2Fyei3V
Since first discovered in 1873 relatively little has been learned about the pacarana. Now firmly on the world stage we hope people can become better informed about this charming creature.
* Meritt D.A. (1984) The Pacarana, Dinomys branickii. In: Ryder O.A., Byrd M.L. (eds) One Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Copyright 2018 - Global Media Alliance Ltd.