Probably like humans some is genetic inclination some socialization.

If it's nature/nurture then he picked the wrong group to get close to.
These chimps are at this reserve because they were rescued from traumatic encounters with humans.

Rejected by rejected monkeys. Like being banned from OD.

^ ^ HAH!

I couldn't get the original vid to load for some reason, but found something else, and holy crap, this attack was worse than I thought. But then why should I expect restraint from wild critters who in some primitive way probably felt deprived of the their normal hunting and frolicking? I can only guess that chimps treat prey like cats do, that is play with and torture them up until death.

The thing that I don't get is, if they could pull him under the inner fence, why didn't they crawl under that fence themselves?

*EDIT* Ah, the fence was supposed to be electrified, perhaps they knew they could reach under it w/o touching it and pull him through, as they had no concern for him being zapped.

Lancelot Link, private chimp.... ah now that was a mellow primate !

shah .;)

Many moons ago when working for the canadian broadcasting company. I was at the riverdale zoo in Toronto to photograph some primates.

The keeper removed a twenty five year old female orangatang from her enclosure to give me better shots. It was done before the zoo opened for the day. The orangatang called lulu reached over and grabbed my arms and transfered her feet to my legs. The strength was so powerful it imobilised me totally and I started to fall towards her while examining her teeth. She was heavy and I really could not move at all. This and she was not even trying.

I had some aprehension about how she would react once we hit the ground together. It fortunatly turned out she was pretty tame and was only interested in my camera. Leave this alone akim if you read it. No I did not.

The keeper induced her to let me go. If that primate had been bad natured or intended harm there were no illusions by me of what she would have been capable of. That specis of ape is one intelligent and curious animal. One good bite and it may have all been all over. I do not know if she had the strength to litterly rip an arm off but she obviously had a lot of it.

By the way the last thing that would occur. Would have been for me to tell her to get her paws off me. Less than a foot from that mouth means you do not want to agitate the animal or confuse it. I do not care who you are in my opinion you will either focus on the potential danger or freeze. Those big yellow teeth are something you remember and really get your atttention at the time if nothing else.

I have had many interesting and perhaps unusual experiences in life over the years . In really bad situations I do not feel fear. Instead I seem to go on auto pilot and attempt to do whatever is required at the time possible. It is just self preservation really.

I saw a similar encounter on video once. Same thing, the critter wanted the camera. I've read that they are immensely strong, shouldn't be a surprise I guess but they look sort of slow and lazy compared to the other apes.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LbccUVbSRd...utan,+Male.jpg

http://www.visualphotos.com/photo/2x...2-16422784.jpg

Yes they do appear to move slow. I think their moves are more considered than most primates. In fact this specis of ape may have the most gentle of dispositions unless threatened. Plus also the most intelligence perhaps.

My next cage was the spider monkeys and I was taken in by the same keeper. He warned me to watch they did not circle around behind me as then they might bite.

The only thing I can assure anyone that compared to a human the strength of an orangatang is spectacular. She meant me no harm at all. Yet there was some concern at the time to me of if she was going to let go or do what next. She like most animals was probably aware of my emotions at the time. So felt secure in her curiosity.