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News & ArtsThursday, November 19, 2009
Science A Gorilla Names Its Baby
Posted by Charles Mudede on Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 8:36 AM
My problem with this report?
A baby gorilla at the Toronto Zoo has his father — and fruit — to thank for his new name.Yes, the name of Nassir's father. Who gave that beast that pleasant-sounding, so civilized name? Knuckles, Dak, Ton, Kong, Mud, Brut—these names are appropriate for an animal that's all muscle and hair.As more than 50 people watched yesterday morning, five names — each next to its own enticing treat — were put to Charles (pictured above). After surveying the lot, Charles lumbered straight over to the container marked ‘Nassir’ — alongside some select apples, pears and oranges.
The five potential names — Nassir, Neo, Nico, Nigel and Nsambu — were selected through a contest. The contest required the name begin with the letter N, to honour his mother, Ngozi.
One other comment. Though it's hard to imagine, but for a considerable part of history, very deep history, a human was to see, in his/her lifetime, far more gorillas or chimps than other human beings. Today, all we see are humans, humans, humans.
1
Yah! I guess "The Planet of the Apes" isn't going to come true. There go my dreams of an ape lead apocalypse.
Don't feel bad Charles. My Brother had a dog that shared names with my Sister's fiancee. They had to do a slight variation on the dog's name to smooth things over.
Don't feel bad Charles. My Brother had a dog that shared names with my Sister's fiancee. They had to do a slight variation on the dog's name to smooth things over.
2
In a fit of rage over whatever pathetic thing kids get mad about, I named a new dog after my Grandpa.
In reply, he coolly blurted out "I bought him, so I get to name him-- I'll name him after you. Come here, Asshole!"
In reply, he coolly blurted out "I bought him, so I get to name him-- I'll name him after you. Come here, Asshole!"
5
Teehee, my cat's name is Nigel. I think it's a pretty fancy name, myself, but then again, while he IS all hair, he is much more blubber than muscle.
7
"a human was to see, in his/her lifetime, far more gorillas or chimps than other human beings"
Then why was the existence of large primates, such as gorillas and orangutans, considered a myth up until the 19th century?
Citation needed, Charles.
Then why was the existence of large primates, such as gorillas and orangutans, considered a myth up until the 19th century?
Citation needed, Charles.
8
that last paragraph is not only terribly worded, it also says absolutely nothing. did you have a point? also objecting to charles as "pleasant-sounding, so civilized" and not nassir, nigel, etc. is either a symptom of your lack of cohesive thinking or some sort of odd name bigotry.
9
"Knuckles, Dak, Ton, Kong, Mud, Brut—these names are appropriate for an animal that's all muscle and hair."
This is the funniest sentence I have read on Slog in weeks. Thank you, Charles.
This is the funniest sentence I have read on Slog in weeks. Thank you, Charles.
10
@7, by deep history I assume Charles meant prehistory, in which it's still his theory. Who is to say that humans were not social creatures from their emergence, similar to troops of modern day primates, and who is to say that early humans weren't incredibly cautious and largely stayed away from the other apes?
11
Cry me a river, Charles. At least your name isn't synonymous with toilets, or the clients of prostitutes - like all we poor beleagured bastards named "John".
12
"Knuckles, Dak, Ton, Kong, Mud, Brut." Um.
I can't imagine the public response that would come of naming a gorilla "Mud."
(Although I'm sure Mudede's Slog post in response to a dark-fleshed primate named "Mud" would be golden.)
I can't imagine the public response that would come of naming a gorilla "Mud."
(Although I'm sure Mudede's Slog post in response to a dark-fleshed primate named "Mud" would be golden.)
13
When I saw the headline I had great expectations of a story along the lines of Koko→All Ball; that a gorilla had actually named its baby at long last!
That humans used trickery to choose how to label an Other—while claiming the label was their choice—is hardly news, is it?
That humans used trickery to choose how to label an Other—while claiming the label was their choice—is hardly news, is it?
14
The last paragraph is just flat wrong, indefensibly wrong, if you know anything about human prehistory. After the pre-human and the pre-chimp lines separated from their common ancestor, the pre-humans were evolving in east Africa, in fairly arid savannah conditions, while the ancestors of chimps and gorillas were (and still are) in much more jungley regions.
Then pre-humans turned into modern humans and started spreading everywhere. They left Africa. There were no chimps or gorillas outside of Africa. They spread all over Africa too, and some went to the jungles where the chimps and gorillas were. But the chimps and gorillas were probably none too eager to go blundering into the human encampments. They probably kept themselves to themselves.
This was the state of affairs until the invention of zoos and photographs a couple of hundred years ago. Arguably, we see far more chimps and gorillas than we ever have in our past.
Then pre-humans turned into modern humans and started spreading everywhere. They left Africa. There were no chimps or gorillas outside of Africa. They spread all over Africa too, and some went to the jungles where the chimps and gorillas were. But the chimps and gorillas were probably none too eager to go blundering into the human encampments. They probably kept themselves to themselves.
This was the state of affairs until the invention of zoos and photographs a couple of hundred years ago. Arguably, we see far more chimps and gorillas than we ever have in our past.
16
@11 - There is nothing wrong with being associated with the clients of prostitutes... unless you think there is something shameful about prostitutes?
Toilets... well, fair enough.
On-topic: Charles is a kick-ass name. I don't entirely mind it for a Gorilla, admittedly it doesn't quite "fit" but that allows it to kind of... take you by surprise.
Besides, maybe it's a really cool name to the Gorillas... like, maybe it just sounds really pleasing to them. Which would be cool... they don't need our centuries of sociocultural name-associative-stuff anyway.
Toilets... well, fair enough.
On-topic: Charles is a kick-ass name. I don't entirely mind it for a Gorilla, admittedly it doesn't quite "fit" but that allows it to kind of... take you by surprise.
Besides, maybe it's a really cool name to the Gorillas... like, maybe it just sounds really pleasing to them. Which would be cool... they don't need our centuries of sociocultural name-associative-stuff anyway.
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