September 9, 2005

"They also have sex for pleasure but most of the time, it's a way of making peace. They are a bit the hippies of the forest."

Bonobos.
It's feeding time at the sanctuary, and with the distribution of papayas, bananas, sugar cane and other delicacies for the 43 residents, the excitement mounts; loud screams and, in front of the visitors' curious eyes, simulated sex.

"Do they do this all the time?" asked one surprised Tanzanian official.

"Only to relieve tensions and when negotiating for a perch or food, and then disinterestedly, whatever the sex or the age," said Andre.

Yes, you remember what it was like when you had hippies over to your last dinner party.

8 comments:

Meade said...

Hippies simulate sex?

Ann Althouse said...

Lmeade: Only while trying to get to their seats at the dinner table.

Mary: It's flashback Friday.

Ann Althouse said...

Good question, Gene. I also want to know if male bonobos have trouble seeing subtle facial expressions on the lady bonobo.

Robert said...

Hippies...hippies...they say they want to save the earth, but all they ever do is smoke pot and not take baths and simulate sex at Ann Althouse's dinner parties...

P_J said...

The pull quote works well in other settings.

"It's party time in the quad, and with the distribution of liquor, beer, shooters, and other delicacies for the 43 residents, the excitement mounts; loud screams and, in front of the visitors' curious eyes, simulated sex.

"Do they do this all the time?" asked one surprised parent.

"Only to relieve tensions and when negotiating for a perch or food, and then disinterestedly, whatever the sex or the age," said Andre.

XWL said...

In the words of the immortal Cartman, "effin hippies"

Ruth Anne Adams said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
MrSpkr said...

Yes, you remember what it was like when you had hippies over to your last dinner party.

Yes, and I'm still trying to get the stains out of the carpet and the smells out of the bathroom and couch.

Next time, we'll set up portable chemical showers on the veranda.