National Geographic Wild's Video 'The Changing Ape'

Observing non-human primates gives humans new knowledge & a glimpse of the past to better understand human evolution. I was able to watch the San Diego Zoo’s Ape Cam for over an hour back and forth the Orangutan was golden brown in color and looked very spectacular. The Ape was very quiet and peaceful in captivity it didn’t move around much. It was sitting down eating tree leaves similar as how a human sat on a chair in that particular manner for over half an hour. The Ape has similar body function processes as humans in terms of using its hands to eat & buttocks to sit. I was able to learn and further acknowledge that we are so similar to the Ape’s compared to other animals in the animal kingdom. Suddenly I witnessed the Orangutan

there are many arguments surrounding what defines culture and how it is possible to label all animals, including non-human primates, as exhibiting signs of possessing culture. They may not take in the opera or sip fine wines, but the verdict is in: apes are cultured. Fifty years of research on the apes has shown they use tools, communicate, and sometimes shake their hands just because it’s cool.

First, the chimpanzees are very similar to humans in terms of social behavior. Chimps have a very specific type of living which is very alike to humans in terms of behavior and life of a community. As far as social structure, the huge example is the separated communities in terms of manpower such as the rise of Figan. When he turns into his power, the old adult chimp, mike,

Gretchen Vogel, a contributing correspondent for the journal Science, wrote an article on how primate culture can help us learn the roots of human culture. Vogel refers to a primatologists and psychologists research on differences in habits between chimpanzee groups at different locations. The research mostly focuses on chimpanzees and their ability to learn from one another. Vogel writes about the evidence of primate culture that is based on field studies comparing the chimpanzee skills and behaviors in groups around Africa. According to Vogel geographic differences impacts a chimpanzee’s specific behavior and skills. She states that even if we do not consider primate behaviors a culture researchers say that primate traditions may offer insight

Over the years, this topic of whether nonhuman primates possess culture or not, has generated numerous debates. This has led to conversations on what is culture and if it is uniquely human. How each researcher defines culture correlates with whether they believe non-human primates possess culture. The definitions provided by scientists and other researchers vary based on its complexity and how loosely or specific they define it; as well as how inclusive and exclusive they are about what is considered a culture. This varies from discipline to discipline where anthropologist believes that culture is learned while biologist believe it is an innate trait.

We have always differences and similarities Humans, Bonobos and chimps are close relatives in evolution. Chimps and bonobos can be considered as siblings and humans as their first cousin. We are so similar in many aspects that humans seem to have a very marginal

     I think that if culture is defined as learned behavior, than it is reasonable to say that primates posses a form of culture. Primates have been observed making tools to aid in collecting food and developing communication system, both of which are learned behaviors.

Primates are not just shared between humans, it is in fact shared with other species in the world. One example is the early stages of when humans were discovered showed that we were once apes back in the day and then we started to change throughout evolution. We do share the same non-verbal gestures with apes so we recognize the similarities between the two. This is why primate reproduction is so important. Apes are the number one sign of primatology has made our understanding more and more a like to us humans. Primate reproduction is important because the more we reproduce humans and other species the more cultures will change among the world. Primates have become more like humans regarding our different cultures that we continue to share

They can be shown how to use certain objects like toys or phones to understand the meaning of them. Phones can also teach them ways as to how humans communicate. The Chimp living with the family learns only from that family and what he is being taught. The one living in it's natural habitat, learns from humans who are teaching them certain things and their surroundings as well. They will also be taught different words to teach them how to communicate with humans by speaking.

Thus, I was able to observe some similarities among these species. The way the female chimp used tools, and her fingers to grab food, how she used to be on her feet, freeing her hands, groom her child, educate her offspring, sleep with him while snuggling, use a lot of face emotions to convey a message to an individual; she smiled at her baby, laughed when playing, and tickling him, remind me of human. She also has a flat pink face, hands’ palm, and feet sole as humans do. Furthermore, the gorilla was also really human when he protected his eyes from the intense sunrays, following the movement of the sun, and sat in the shade, mated with a female, scratched his head, and bottom, and put his finger in his nose. I think that these humans’ pattern appeared for similar reasons as in the Primates. For instance, when the gorilla scratches his bottom, it is because the area is itchy, and he wants to remove what is indisposing him. In addition, the mother chimp educates her kid to transmit knowledge throughout generation, which is the same for humans, who go to school.

For my final paper for this class I will be going over and portraying the behavior of non-human primate and human primate in the literature and movies we went over, compared to the evolutionary understandings of primate behavior. Throughout this class we studied and compared the different primates, including human and non-humans. According to the Wikipedia, “The primate lineage is thought to go back at least 65 million years ago.” with that one could say that research on non-human and human primate can somehow explain the theory behind evolution. In addition to the different reading materials we had in class we also watched several movies displaying different behaviors of non-human primate and human primate. With that saying, I developed a thesis statement, despite its differences and similarities between non-human primates and human primates behavior, can evolution be understood differently when comparing the two through various readings, movies and evolutionary research. Throughout this paper I will be going over the differences and similarities in behavior, evolution, a higher power and even my take on such an opposition.

Through the video and lecture, I believe it is evident apes have a very basic form of culture. I took the some of the basic elements of culture given in the lecture and compared them to the characteristics pointed out in the film. The film gives the examples of young ape’s learning behaviors from parents and copying humans’ behavior. I found it very impressive that apes can learn number and certain words. I was blown away watching the ape press numbers on the screen in numerical order.


Humans and non-human primates have many behaviors and characteristics in common. Apes and chimpanzees have been studies and closely watched for many years. Scientist and researchers and found many similarities between the apes and chimpanzees with humans. All three are hard working and work with tools. They also make these tools. Another similarity is the fact that they are very social with others of their breed. This is also true about other primates other than apes and chimpanzees, like lemurs, lorises, pottos, and tarsiers. Apes and chimpanzees are able to learn sign language and elementary math skills. All primates have nails instead of claws on their fingers and toes. Both non-human primates and humans all have opposable thumbs. They use these thumbs to be able to pick up things better and they are thumbs that are able to move and touch other parts of the same hand. Non-human primates, including humans, learn by watching their mothers and other family members. For example, chimpanzees learn to make stick tools to stick into holes to get termites to eat. They do this because the mothers never teach them

Chimpanzees are a genus of the great ape of Africa, with long black hair and log protruding ears. Humans know them for their intelligence and there very similarities. They have developed family ties similar to man. Over the generations they have even had developed tools out of natural materials. Food for chimpanzees is very important to them due to the excessive amount eating.

The chimpanzee is one of the most interesting mammals on this earth. These animals are the cousins of humans. According to the National Geographic chimpanzees share “98% of our DNA”. This in relative terms make humans and chimpanzees very alike, we are them and they are us. The chimpanzee population inhabitants Africa. Although many believe that chimpanzees are monkeys, they are great apes. (savethechimps.org). The chimpanzee population in the last few years has diminished drastically and this has cause them to become endangered species. Like humans the chimpanzees lives in “communities” they also have a hierarchy, and they consume a diet of vegetables, meats and fruits. (savethechimps.org).