Green Options

For many years, scientists agreed that chimpanzees (and other animals) could not get anything like AIDS. New Research from Dr. Beatrice Hahn at the University of Alabama changes all of that.

Dr. Hahn and others released a report last week showing that chimpanzees can get an AIDS-like illness.

On Saturday Pamela Anderson appeared at a fundraiser and 20th anniversary for the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida. Prior to her appearance, she had written to the governor of Florida on behalf of chimps there held in roadside ‘zoos’ for tourists.

In her statement she said, “PETA and I appeal to you to take action to prevent Florida’s roadside zoos from keeping great apes, and to ensure that these intelligent primates are transferred to approved sanctuaries to live out the remainder of their lives in suitable surroundings.” Anderson has worked for a number of years with PETA to raise awareness about animal cruelty.

A chimpanzee at Sweden’s Furuvik Zoo has been observed chipping at concrete to create discs to throw at visitors. He even made weapons at night to throw at visitors when the zoo opens in the morning.

While Santino the chimp’s retaliatory ways are amusing, they’ve also impressed scientists who believe this is the first evidence of a non-human animal being capable of making plans for the future.