Gorillas Pay Last Respects to Leader

[LincolnMcGrath]

BROOKFIELD, Ill. (AP) - After Babs the gorilla died at age 30, keepers at Brookfield Zoo decided to allow surviving gorillas to mourn the most influential female in their social family.

One by one Tuesday, the gorillas filed into the Tropic World building where Babs' body lay, arms outstretched. Curator Melinda Pruett Jones called it a "gorilla wake."

Babs' 9-year-old daughter, Bana, was the first to approach the body, followed by Babs' mother, Alpha, 43. Bana sat down, held Babs' hand and stroked her mother's stomach. Then she sat down and laid her head on Babs' arm.

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1204/192956.html

[MaryH]

1. Oh, man.

[China_cat]

3. Koko, the signing gorilla

showed that she knew the meaning of death when her first kitten died. Even asked if she would die and when.

[MaryH]

7. Other animals grieve the loss of friends, too.

Wolves howl and act very subdued when pack member dies.

Hipos do a strange wake like thing when one of theirs dies.

Animals feel and reason and suffer. We just don't want to admit it.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. They have sentience. If killing a 3-month old fetus is a crime

then killing them is even more.

[yardwork]

4. Thank you for posting this.

We have to keep fighting to protect the earth and all its creatures.

[LincolnMcGrath]

15. You're very welcome.

[Crankie Avalon]

5. Pretty interesting story...

...and likely a more honorable and dignified scene than when Dubya stood by the coffin during Reagan's funeral.

[obreaslan]

6. Jesus! that just depressed me.

:cry:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

8. Didn't they just recently discover that animals mourn too?

They did a study about elephants and they carry around bones for a few years after a loved one dies. It's really sad to watch them mourn.
Duckie

[thedailyshow]

9. that's so sad

:-(

[RebelOne]

10. That's not a recent discovery.

It's been a known fact for a very long time.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

14. I guess I just thought it was recent because I just heard about it...

a few years ago. :shrug:
Duckie

[underseasurveyor]

11. AAAAAAWWWWWWWW *sniff* That's so sad

:cry: and so loving and tender at the same time. What sensitive and thoughtful zookeepers they are for allowing the others to say goodbye to Babs.

[sniffa]

12. some time in the distant future

this scene wiLL repeat itseLf whiLe the head goriLLa Lies in state.

[underpants]

13. They appear to care more about Babs than Rummy does about the troops

I'm just saying

[DS1]

16. or maybe she just swallowed the community watch one day

I'm just saying