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A Mary T. Hoffman Commentary from All-Creatures.org

 

"Joyful Curmudgeon" An oxymoron?
No! I see all the beauty of God's creation and I'm joyful.  At the same time, I see all the suffering and corruption going on in the world, and feel called to help expose and end it so that we may have true peace and compassion.

 


Bonobos – 15 February 2007
By Mary T. Hoffman

Watching the PBS Nova presentation about bonobos, “The Last Great Ape,” was a touching as well as a disturbing experience.

According to studies, bonobos, whose scientific name is Pan paniscus, are not only more closely related to humans than to gorillas, 99.4% of the critical DNA sites in their genes are identical to those of humans. Just as the difference in appearance of human faces makes them easier to distinguish, so also do individual bonobo faces differ from each other.

The bonobo, one of the most peaceful, unaggressive species of mammals on earth, lives in the humid forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo of central Africa. Due to loss of habitat and the fact that they are hunted for bushmeat, their numbers are dwindling and they are heading for extinction, as are other apes.

Frans de Waal, one of the world's leading primatologists, states that the bonobo is often capable of altruism, compassion, empathy, kindness, patience and sensitivity.

Go on to: The First Two Commandments – 16 February 2007
Return to: Happy Valentine’s Day, Frank! – 14 February 2007
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