A bit of reading and watching and even a face to face encounter will confirm just how similar gorillas are to humans. The evolutionary origin of humans has always been a favorite subject for debate. You’ll be interested to know that geneticists and primatologists have more findings to support the claim that humans evolved from primates.
In fact, geneticist Richard Durbin and his team were able to detect groups of gorilla genes which they found were similar to human genes.
“Primatologists know from fossils that humans, chimps, and gorillas shared an ancient ancestor. Tracing exactly when these lineages diverged, however, is tricky.”
Some notable similarities include having unique fingerprints and opposable thumbs, a long gestational period, and the closeness that mothers and their offspring share. Experts have also discovered that even the growth stages of humans are similar to those of gorillas.
It’s also comforting to know that gorillas have a typically peaceful social life. They are generally calm creatures who only show aggressive behavior when they feel threatened.
Outlining the similarities between humans and gorillas and suggesting once more the probability of evolution, however, is quite a tricky discussion from which will stem numerous diverse arguments and opinions, so let’s leave it at that first and just enjoy how intelligent (and entertaining) gorillas can be.
Bolingo is a perfect example.
Bolingo is a gorilla at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida. He has this habit of mirroring what his trainer does.
It may look like a game to most people but animal care specialist Rachel Hale says this exercise is actually instrumental in building trust and positive relationships with the animals.
According to the trainer, Bolingo is quite energetic and intelligent that’s why she needs to constantly come up with new ways to keep the eager primate entertained and engaged. Whenever Bolingo successfully mimics what his trainer does, Rachel and her team don’t hold back on the praise and applause.
With an enthusiastic trainer and a supportive team, Bolingo gets more than his fill of motivation and encouragement.
This approach to establishing trust and building a good relationship also enables trainers to think outside of the box so you could say it’s a win-win situation.
It’s amazing how quickly primates pick up on things and consequently keep up!
Bolingo’s effortless handstands and even “glass door hugs” highlight more than just animal intelligence. It’s pretty indicative of similarities between humans and their species, too.
When you know how to approach animals and make them feel at ease, then you’re on your way to building a safe relationship with them. While that’s advisably left to the experts, it doesn’t hurt to take notes. You know, just in case. Whether behind an enclosure or roaming free, animals are quite unpredictable. That’s why it’s best to err on the side of caution, even towards creatures who seem to be exceptionally friendly.
After all, animals deserve the same respect humans demand – and they’re not to be underestimated at all.
Let this intelligent gorilla put a smile on your face as he shows what he can do!
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