: PBS LearningMedia - Kratt's Creatures - Pan Troglodytes - an In-Depth Analysis

: PBS LearningMedia

This is the last entry for tonight. The episode is about chimpanzees. Our adventurers are in Africa looking after 3 orphaned chimps: Nika, Tess and Sophie. They have lost their parents and their wild lifestyles, so Chris and Martin want to teach them how to be good chimps. We start off with teaching them about food: particularly the trick of putting a stick in a log or tree hole and eating termites that latch onto the stick. The other chimps weren't interested but Sophie was and learned quickly. We learn that humans and chimps have some dietary choices that are similar such as fruit and veggies, nuts, meat, etc. Of course, our preparation is different and we don't eat bugs nor do chimps eat junk food. Adult chimps plan their hunting of monkeys and other small animals and then strike. They also have the strength of 3 adult men. The oposable thumbs of chimps and the other apes are discussed: some have short thumbs because that makes for easier swinging through trees and gorillas use theirs for getting leaves and other food. Chimps have them and they are even on the feet of the chimps. Sharing within the ape world is looked at with chimps, gorillas and orangutangs. Orangutangs by the way weigh up to 200 lbs and yet can swing easily in the jungles where they live. Gorillas are the strongest of the apes however and they use the strength for getting at their vegetation for food and for getting around in their forest home. They are not malicious brutes and have been misrepresented by the media. Chimps by way of being omnivores are more brutal than gorillas, contrary to popular perception. The fact of chimps, orangutangs and gorillas building nests is also brought up. Lastly, chimp communication is discussed: facial expressions, barks, whistles, hoots, etc. A good episode, but not one without evolution. Allegedly, the first ancestral apes appeared 60 million years ago with a number of different pithecus specimens being brought up. 10 million years ago, the first real apes appeared. Sounds similar to the documentary I embedded earlier, except that apes are discussed and not humans. That's all for tonight. Have a good night, and I'll catch you later.