Guest guest Posted January 9, 2004 Report Share Posted January 9, 2004 Did anyone catch the Xmas edition of the New Scientist? There was an article on animals getting themselves intoxicated (especially vervet monkeys and cats) that I found very amusing and I just had to share it with you all. I should probably not quote word for word from the magazine so I'll try to sum it up: Apparently given access to alcohol, vetivert monkeys have a very similar drinking pattern to us: Most drink moderately and like to mix alcohol with fruit juice 15% stay teetotal 15% drink heavily and like neat spirits and 5% binge drink, pass out on the floor and do it all over again the next day. And of course whilst under the influence some are aggressive, flirtatious, grumpy and some think everything's funny. People used to lure them for food by leaving rum in coconut shells as bait. A monkey would happen upon it and drink itself into a stupor. More recently the monkeys now rait local bars for the rum! The effects of catnip on cats is pretty well known - there is a similar plant in Japan that makes cats lie on their backs with their paws in the air. (I can only presume this is a feline equivalent of " If I hold onto the floor I can't fall off it " ). This also reminds me of a documentary a while back where the guy running it was trying to prove early man built ceremonial structures at prehistoric sites in such a way that sound would disorientate them and leave them in a trance-like state. Marvellous stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2004 Report Share Posted January 10, 2004 Amusing? I find this just about as amusing as an article on children being intoxicated. Call me a party pooper. Pat > > Did anyone catch the Xmas edition of the New Scientist? > > There was an article on animals getting themselves intoxicated > (especially vervet monkeys and cats) that I found very amusing and I > just had to share it with you all. > I should probably not quote word for word from the magazine so I'll > try to sum it up: > > Apparently given access to alcohol, vetivert monkeys have a very > similar drinking pattern to us: > Most drink moderately and like to mix alcohol with fruit juice > 15% stay teetotal > 15% drink heavily and like neat spirits > and 5% binge drink, pass out on the floor and do it all over again > the next day. > > And of course whilst under the influence some are aggressive, > flirtatious, grumpy and some think everything's funny. > People used to lure them for food by leaving rum in coconut shells as > bait. A monkey would happen upon it and drink itself into a stupor. > More recently the monkeys now rait local bars for the rum! > -- SANTBROWN townhounds/ vegetarianslimming/ HOMEPAGE: http://www.angelfire.com/art/pendragon/ ---------- * " There are too many idiots in this world. And having said it, I have the burden of proving it. " (Franz Fanon) * " Until he extends the circle of compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace. " (Albert Schweitzer) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.