Page 30 - FWG Issue 3_April_2022

Nature

Satya Deep, Unsplash

an understanding and empathy that was where, by inference, it had become neurotic In a lecture, American ecologist, Carl Safina,
understated before. in precluding researchers from interpreting put it more circumspectly, “. . . people
animal behaviour in an anthropomorphic who know animals know this word –
Many respected male scientists remain way. Sheldrick wrote how science tended to anthropomorphism – and know ‘You must
sceptical about emotions existing impose its “own complicated explanations never project human feelings and emotions
among animals, yet it is difficult to deny as to why an animal was behaving in a on other animals’. But I am here to tell you I
the significance of, for instance, Dutch certain way, when, in fact, the answer was think that projecting human emotions and
ethologist, Frans de Waal’s experience pretty simple. One simply had to compare it human thoughts on other animals is the
described in his 2019 book, Mama’s last hug. to the likely response of the human animal if best first guess about what they are doing
subjected to the same set of circumstances.” and why.”
The ‘Mama’ referred to was a big
chimpanzee matriarch who formed a deep
bond with Dutch biologist, Jan van Hooff.
Van Hooff knew her for half-a-century
and, knowing she must be dying, went to
visit her after a long absence. A cell phone
video showed the dying chimp curled up,
unresponsive, and refusing all food as van
Hoof, unannounced, approaches.

De Waal wrote: “He is calling, softly to her.
She remains curled up, showing no sign of
recognising his voice. Then an eyelid opens.
Then both. Suddenly Mama’s face erupts
into the broadest, fleshiest grin one can
imagine in an ape. Her feeble arm uncurls
from her chest and reaches out and finds
her old friend’s greying hair and begins to
stroke it. Her fingers tremble in his hair. The
smile remains splitting her ancient face. She
pulls him towards her and tries to hug.”

Daphne Sheldrick, in her 2012
autobiographical Love, Life and Elephants,
suggested that science had reached a stage Ryan al Bishri, Unsplash

Fourways Gardens • 28 • April 2022