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Natasha,
a 5-year-old black macaque walks at the Safari
Park near Tel Aviv Tuesday July 20, 2004. The
young monkey began recently walking exclusively on
her hind legs after a stomach ailment nearly
killed her, zookeepers said.(AP Photo/Eli Dasa) |
Monkey
Apes Humans by Walking on Two Legs
07/21/04
- Yahoo
News
By DAN WALDMAN, Associated Press Writer
JERUSALEM
- A young monkey at an Israeli zoo has
started walking on its hind legs only — aping humans —
after a near death experience, the zoo's veterinarian said
Wednesday.
Natasha,
a 5-year-old black macaque at the Safari Park near Tel
Aviv, began walking exclusively on her hind legs after a
stomach ailment nearly killed her, zookeepers said.
Monkeys
usually alternate between upright movement and walking on
all fours. A picture in the Maariv daily on Wednesday
showed Natasha standing ramrod straight like a human. The
picture was labeled humorously, "The Missing
Link?"
Two
weeks ago, Natasha and three other monkeys were diagnosed
with severe stomach flu. At the zoo clinic, she slipped
into critical condition, said Igal Horowitz, the
veterinarian.
"I
was sure that she was going to die," he said.
"She could hardly breathe and her heart was not
functioning properly."
After
intensive treatment, Natasha's condition stabilized. When
she was released from the clinic, Natasha began walking
upright.
"I've
never seen or heard of this before," said Horowitz.
One possible explanation is brain damage from the illness,
he said.
Otherwise,
Horowitz said, Natasha's behavior has returned to normal.
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