SSS 2012-05-16

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If you’ve ever spent time watching chimps² at the zoo, you’ve probably wondered: what are they thinking? Well, the answer might be simple: could be they’re fixin’ to hurl³ a rock at your head.

 

One chimp¹ in Sweden actually hides stones and other potential projectiles⁴, and then acts casual before chucking them at visitors—behavior that suggests an unprecedented⁵ degree of primate⁶ planning and deception⁷. His duplicity is described in the journal Public Library of Science ONE. 

 

The chimp, named Santino, had long been known to fling things at annoying onlookers⁸. For years he’s calmly gathered stones and chunks⁹ of concrete, stacking them in piles, which he visits when some human particularly irks him.

 

But lately Santino has gotten more cunning. For one, he’s taken to concealing¹⁰ his arsenal¹¹ beneath little heaps of hay that he carries out from his enclosure. And his attacks are also more stealthy. Santino used to pitch a fit before pitching a stone. But now he acts all nonchalant, even thoughtfully munching¹² an apple before letting the missiles fly.

 

The researchers say the data show that chimps are capable of social planning and deception. Unless, of course, that’s just what the chimps want us to think.

 

Thanks for the minute for Scientific Americans 60 second Science, I am Karen Hopkin.

 

hurl: to throw down with violence

 

projectile: a missile for a weapon

 

fling：　to cast as if by throwing

 

chunks: a large noteworthy quantity or part

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