West Africa chimps are losing their culture, in another human legacy
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 7)
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Topic: GS1 – History – Culture |
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Context |
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Chimpanzee Culture and Communication
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Culture is something both humans and animals learn from others and pass onto future generations.
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Animals show culture in how they find food, use tools, mate, and care for each other.
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Dialects are communication behaviours that vary between communities.
Chimpanzee Dialects in West Africa
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Scientists found four mating-related dialects in wild chimpanzees in Taï National Park: heel-kick, knuckle-knock, leaf-clip, and branch-shake.
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These gestures help young males secretly ask females for mating, especially without alerting dominant males.
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Each community uses different gestures. Knuckle-knocking was once common but has vanished from some groups.
Impact of Human Actions
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Habitat loss and hunting reduce chimpanzee populations and disrupt cultural behaviours.
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The North chimpanzee group lost many adult males between 2004 and 2011, causing the knuckle-knock gesture to disappear.
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Even after new adult males joined, the dialect did not return.
Cultural Differences Across Regions
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Chimpanzees in Uganda use different gestures like object-slap for mating.
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These variations are not due to genetics or environment, but social learning.
Need to Protect Chimpanzee Culture
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Cultural behaviours help animals survive, such as using tools or finding food.
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Conservation efforts now include protecting animal cultures.
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The death of older members harms group survival, as they carry valuable cultural knowledge.
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Practice Question: Discuss the importance of cultural behaviours in animal conservation. How can the inclusion of cultural preservation improve wildlife protection strategies? (150 Words /10 marks) |
