Compare And Contrast Primates At The San Francisco Zoo

1.0 Introduction

The question of whether primates in the wild behave similarly to that in captivity is constantly pondered in the scientific community. So, I observed two primates at the San Francisco Zoo to identify their behavior while in captivity and how they differ from those in the wild. In fact, the behavior of these two primates show a correlation with captivity, something one cannot find in these species out in the wild. It is important to understand the impact captivity is having on primates to ensure that the natural balance of their lives is maintained. This is primarily because these primates also provide a better understanding of the human behavior. If their natural behavior were to change dramatically, we will have lost our only

Their response to threats is simply a threat. When a pair of red-ruffed lemurs approached Subject 1, the black-and-white ruffed lemur resorted to raising its front hands in an attempt to scare off the enemy. The same was observed in Subject 2 when its kin screeched angrily at the subject for falsely warning them of a predator. The subject then turns to shaking its tail wildly and bears its teeth at the group. This observation confirms how territorial some primates are and that threats are usually met with threats. This standoff strategy reveals how dominance in a group or area is achieved. Furthermore, this also reveals a significant trait shared by most primates, which is the need to exercise some form of power and control over

First, the two subjects reveal that threats are responded with threats. A similar concept of “fight fire with fire” also exists in humans; however, the concept may not necessarily be restricted to territory. This is mainly because humans have the willingness to learn about other cultures, brought about by the ability to travel long distance. Consequently, human have become more curious about cultures and traditions other than their own. This then causes both emigration and immigration to and from countries all over the world. So, where does the threat-by-threat response in humans exist? Consider a war like World War II and one can see how humans respond to threats within their own species. It is important to note that this response was not due to territorial claims, as observed in the two animals but rather the need to