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ZOOLOGISTS ARE BAFFLED by the strange behaviour of a troop of baboons at a Dutch zoo which have become inexplicably withdrawn, apparently fearful of an unseen threat.
“They became panicked at the end of the day on Monday, they were hysterical, not jumping around but behaving strangely,” zoologist Wijbren Landman of Emmen Dierenpark in the northern Netherlands told AFP today.
“On Tuesday and Wednesday they just sat in the trees or on the ground, hardly moving or eating,” Landman said.
The 112 east African monkeys also turned their backs on visitors.
The zoo said it was the fourth time in 20 years that the baboons have behaved this way. Nevertheless, such behaviour has not been seen elsewhere, either in captivity or in the wild.
The zoologist said he has no idea what happened on Monday to traumatise the baboons, who were all born in captivity and live on an island in the zoo.
“I’ve heard lots of theories but nothing that holds water,” Landman said.
These include that the baboons saw a predator, either a real one or an image of one on a visitor’s T-shirt, or that they felt an earthquake or other natural disaster.
“The craziest suggestion was that it was caused by a UFO,” said Landman.
“They’ve been observed to be disconcerted in the wild if they’ve had a run-in with a predator, but not this type of behaviour,” he said.
Despite the lack of an explanation for the behaviour, the baboons have at least started to eat a little.
“Yesterday evening some of them started eating little bits of apple and we gave them pellets with vitamins and minerals,” Landman said.
“They’re not yet 100 per cent but they’re improving.
“We’ve asked experts for their opinions, if they’ve ever seen anything like it or have an explanation, but that hasn’t turned anything up yet,” he said.
They must of heard the news about Pat Kenny!
Got to laugh at the picture
“Baboons (picture posed by models)”
Model Baboons eh?
Yeah… the shouldn’t insult Baboon’s intelligence by comparing them to models :P
Skittin!
A baboon refused to pass the Dutchie….
The correct term for a group of baboons is a flange
It’s not, a troop is the correct term. But flange has become quite common in recent years and bizarrely it originates from that not the 9 o clock news sketch with Rowan Atkinson dressed up as a monkey – they chose to use flange over troop as they thought it sounded funnier and the term has since appeared even in academic papers!
We’ll stick with flange
Ya, i watch QI too, I do prefer flange though
Is that because of their pinkish/orange piles?
Intelligent animals, maybe going on strike for freedom..
What’s wrong? No one said anything about the government yet
Thats because it was the Banks…
Darren, that’s because Baboons are an intelligent species as compared to the Dodos in Government and their supporters?
They’ve heard how much Gareth Bale is being sold for.
Rise of the Planet of the Baboons just doesn’t have the same ring to it…
Picture posed by models lol …I hope thats a piss take lol
It’s no wonder they needed a break, sure they’ve only had 4 days off in 20 years.
As for the pic, poor Glenda Gilson really isn’t doing too well for herself these days.
Just a theory but as they are probably all closely related, and sharing the same piece of land for a long time, did the subject of wills and inheritance happen to come up by any chance?
Somebody must have thrown in some muffins into them to eat!
No doubt!
Their keepers should get them a stereo with some Pink Floyd, dark side of the moon.
Order a couple of pizzas.
Tommow they will be right as rain.
They must have mistook a few holland jerseys as an orange parade and acted accordingly
Maybe….? something to do with….? realizing that….they live on a small island? And not in the wild? Anyone? Anyone? Beuller? Beuller?
Maybe it was the Thunder and Lightning.
Their taking strike action for the shit food that they are been given
Are the models in baboon costumes?
I’m just gutted someone got there before me with the Pat Kenny gag!!
I’ve solved the puzzle!!!!! They were shown a photo of the attendees at the Council of State meeting
In the Aras last Monday. Some scary looking faces there.
They probably saw what they’re own @r$e looked like for the first time.
Obviously an anti-Christ sighting á la ‘Damien from The Omen’.
He’s amongst us.
It’s bugging me so much that we’ll never know the true answer!
I find behavior like this in animals so interesting and id absolutely love to know what caused it.
Did anyone suggest a “paranormal” cause? Just because you’ve never seen/experienced it doesn’t mean they’re not real!
Also people say animals have a sixth sense!
these bamboons must have heard about property tax:-)
Ya they must have gotten the 7-day warning letter! LoL
IMF panicking baboons again sounds familiar
These are intelligent animals, and most likely have a very effective means of communicating complex information among themselves. Given that, perhaps they have just learned of a pending disaster looming over them. …
Did they not keep a diary of why they acted like that before??
Pub crawl. Shark attack!!!
Damien.
It begins.
A few bananas for the boys always sorts me out…. Nothing more really
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