Now, if they find a fish that climbs a tree

[dolfan]

and eats a banana, they've got me.

But, these monkeys ain't fishing. They're snagging. Big whoop dee doo. They don't even seem too impressed by it.

[dolfan]

And, this paragraph ... get this:

Agustin Fuentes, a University of Notre Dame anthropology professor who studies long-tailed macaques, or macaca fascicularis, on the Indonesian island of Bali and in Singapore, said he was "heartened" to see the finding published because such details can offer insight into the "complexity of these animals."

"It was not surprising to me because they are very adaptive," he said. "If you provide them with an opportunity to get something tasty, they will do their best to get it."

Fuentes, who is not connected with the published study, said he has seen similar behavior in Bali, where he has observed long-tailed macaques in flooded paddy fields foraging for frogs and crabs. He said it affirms his belief that their ability to thrive in urban and rural environments from Indonesia to northern Thailand could offer lessons for endangered species.

"We look at so many primate species not doing well. But at the same time, these macaques are doing very well," he said. "We should learn what they do successfully in relation to other species."

That's right. A monkey fishing class. That's what's we need. Enroll your primate today!!!

Here's what a syllabus might look like:

Day 1: Fishes and Feces: What To Grab, What To Throw Back

Day 2: Keepin' It Reel: Don't Fish In Front Of Cameras, They'll Only Keep Staring At You,

Day 3: Fly-Tying For Primates With Opposable Thumbs

Day 4: Graduation

[pastorables]

Here you go:

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761 ... _Fish.html

[dolfan]

Here you go:

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761 ... _Fish.html

Oh MY!

But, can he peel a banana?!

[macgulley]

Meijaard, a senior science adviser at The Nature Conservancy, said it was unclear what prompted the long-tailed macaques to go fishing

I'm not an expert on monkey behavior or anything but I wonder if maybe the monkeys were HUNGRY??