In recent news, I came across a Yahoo! news article:
Researchers: Chimps deal with death like humans
By SYLVIA HUI, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 13 mins ago
LONDON – Rare video footage taken at a wildlife park has showed that chimpanzees react to the death of a group member just like humans do when a close relative dies, researchers said Monday.
Videos of a group of four chimpanzees at Scotland’s Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park showed three of the animals caressing and grooming the fourth, a dying female, more than usual, said James Anderson, a lecturer in psychology at Scotland’s University of Stirling.
The videos also showed that the three chimpanzees tested the elderly female, Pansy, for signs of life at the moment of death, Anderson said. Pansy’s daughter lay near her mother’s body throughout the night, and all the chimpanzees were subdued in the next few days.
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I recall watching a nature video on televised programming of:
Flint
Flint (1964–1972) was Flo’s third son, and her first infant born after Dr. Goodall began observing the community.[5] Flint had difficulty weaning, and became distraught when the birth of Flame displaced him as Flo’s baby.[19] After Flame died, Flint regained his enthusiasm, but resumed his infant-like behavior.[19] After his nephew Freud was born, Flint became fascinated with the new infant and became an important influence of Freud’s first year of life.[20] After Flo died in 1972, he became depressed and ill and died shortly afterward.[7]
It was a sad show and I cried. Flint built a nest high up the trees and nearby where Flo, his mother, had died. The other chimpanzees waited for Flint to come down but he didn’t leave his `death bed`. But because they needed to look for food, the troop left him. Eventually, Flint, the youngest and most spoiled chimpanzee died.
Flint rhymes with Flynn, by the way.
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