Back to the aquatic ape theory - or is it a DB member? :D

[Adrian]

Swimming orang-utans’ spearfishing exploits amaze the wildlife experts - Times Online

[Pastor]

Who the hell has been filming me without asking??? Either that or I have a fan club

Stunning fish with a stick: I have some serious competition too

Awesome link Adrian

[wet]

So cool!

I'd like to know how these orangs swim, like a doggy paddle or a crawl or a breast stroke? (I guess breast stroke with face above the waterline, like the pic.) Do they inflate their one liter laryngeal air sacs (like a mae west life jacket) to keep their head above water easier, and continuous breathing? That's what I've been hypothesizing, that the air sacs allowed vertical floating and surface swimming, but not breath-hold diving. Whereas human ancestors lost the air sacs and gained a layer of skin fat when they started daily dipping and diving for shallow plants, clams, crawdads, etc. and later diving a bit deeper & backfloating.

[trux]

There is another article about the spearing orangutans in the Daily Mail and has this amazing photo in there:
Orangutan attempts to hunt fish with spear | the Daily Mail

apeMS2604_800x575.jpg photo from The Daily Mail

...
It is the first time one has been seen using a tool to hunt.
...

This individual had seen locals fishing with spears on the Gohong River. Although the method required too much skill for him to master, he was later able to improvise by using the pole to catch fish already trapped in the locals' fishing lines.

The image is part of a series taken for a new book, The Thinkers Of The Jungle, which also includes the first photograph of an orangutan swimming.

EDIT: David, you can try contacting the authors of the book Thinkers Of The Jungle (Gerd Schuster, Willie Smits and Jay Ullal), perhaps they may be able to answer your questions.

[island_sands]

Orangutan attempts to hunt fish with spear | the Daily Mail

Attachment 18900 photo from The Daily Mail

great photo, although it looks photoshopped?

[trux]

Originally Posted by island_sands

great photo, although it looks photoshopped?

I do not have that impression, but of course, one never knows. Although it comes from a book by apparently respected authors, the scientific world already saw worse frauds. However, unless proved the opposite, I do not have a reason to suspect a fraud in this case. I think the printed photos would reveal any manipulation better - you may buy it and investigate

NHBS - Thinkers of the Jungle - Gerd Schuster, Willie Smits and Jay Ullal

[ReefTroll]

That's so awesome. Smarter than most people I work with.

[cdavis]

Somebody sign this "guy?" up for DB, quick!! Our first non-human member (after than other bear, of course).

Connor

[Jon]

Speaking of Aquatic Apes, I think this guy is the missing link.

Jon

[Adrian]

Interesting fins he's using.