MARCELINO LEARNS FAST

MARCELINO LEARNS FAST

Marcelino, son of Peter and Táta, is one and a half year old and already demonstrates that he is going to be a parent's protector.

Whenever I go in their enclosure, after attending the requests of giving water in plastic bottles to Judy and Táta, Marcelino comes running, climbing the fence and inviting me to play. He tries to reach my pocket, the key rings and the radio, but only to play, as long as he never gets them for real. He runs from one side to the other, goes up and down on the fence and drives his mother and auntie crazy, giving no space to boredom.

One day, his father, Peter, invited me to play, running towards the food area and after running to the outside door, like playing tag. When Marcelino saw that his father was kind of running away from me, he must have thought that I wanted to hurt him. "Why my father is running way from this guy?" Peter was not worried and continued to play, but his son, as a future guardian and family protector – characteristics inherit from his father – showed braveness to defend his father when he sensed the possibility of risks. Marcelino, with his small and infant body, climbed the fence, beat his feet, did angry sounds and showed his teeth, a clear sign that he was not satisfied with my attitude.

After a while, Peter was still playing with me, but, once or twice, he poked Marcelino as he was saying "relax, we are just playing, son!" This was the only thing that made Marcelino get less nervous.

This behaviour shows us two things: the importance of the family life, that allows the teaching and learning process, as well as the concerning they have with their near relatives, a clear demonstration of altruism. Those who still have doubts, or used to have, this is one more fact that proves how fast chimpanzees learn.
 
Msc. Luiz Fernando Leal Padulla
Biologist