Question:

I don''t understand how monkeys learn to interact with people so quickly. How do they learn to do this so fast? I see them on television, and I''d like to understand how they learn to interact with people.

S.R., Bellpage, NY Mar 11, 2007

Answer:

I spend time in India working at my wife''s wonderful Animal Refuge, where injured and orphaned infant monkeys are sometimes brought in for proper care. Older monkeys will hold sick and injured newcomers while we treat them. Monkeys are very intelligent, observant animals and learn quickly to trust people if the monkeys are not fully mature adults. Adult monkeys who have not had human contact as infants can be aggressive when cornered, but they are generally fearful of humans, certainly the most dangerous and unpredictable of all the ape species.The monkeys and apes you see on television have all had lots of human contact since infancy and were probably born in captivity. That does not mean they make great pets. They will destroy your home and may be aggressive toward unfamiliar people. Captive apes and monkeys need expert handling and understanding.I would like to see all of them free and in the wild and not be reduced to wearing human clothes and doing cute tricks in circuses and on television. This is deme

Question:

I don''t understand how monkeys learn to interact with people so quickly. How do they learn to do this so fast? I see them on television and I''d like to understand how they learn to interact with people.

S.R., Bellpage, NY Mar 20, 2005

Answer:

I spend time in India working at my wife Deanna''s wonderful Animal Refuge, where injured and orphaned infant monkeys are sometimes brought in for proper care. Older resident monkeys will hold sick and injured newcomers while we treat them! Monkeys are very intelligent, observant animals and quickly learn to trust people if they are not fully mature adults. Adult monkeys who have not had human contact as infants can be quite dangerous because they are afraid.The monkeys and apes that you see on television have all had lots of human contact since infancy, and were probably born in captivity. That does not mean that they make great pets. They will destroy your home and may be aggressive toward unfamiliar people. Captive apes and monkeys need expert handling and understanding.I would like to see all of them free and in the wild and not be reduced to wearing human clothes and doing cute tricks in circuses and on television. This is demeaning exploitation. But in order for them to remain in the wild, their forest

Question:

My neighbors have an outdoor cat named Roscoe. They found him in the middle of the street and they neglect him a little. They leave him out in the rain and snow.I''d let him in when I see him, but he''s afraid of my bird, even though he sees other birds outside. Why is he scared?I would also like to know why he likes the mixed milk and cat food I give him, and if it''s good that I do this, because I don''t want to hurt him.

D.M., Bellpage, NY Sep 05, 2004

Answer:

You are evidently a very caring young person, and I wish more grown-ups were like you.Your neighbor''s cat should not be allowed to roam free -- not just in bad weather but all the time, because he could get hit by a car or get a disease from other free-roaming cats. Cats should be conditioned as kittens to enjoy life indoors and not be allowed to wander free because of these hazards. Some cats also kill birds and other wildlife, who have problems enough in many areas due to human encroachment and destruction of natural habitats.Go easy on the milk you give to this neglected cat. A tablespoon or two is sufficient, because cats are generally lactose-intolerant. It is kind of you to feed Roscoe -- I''m sure he has come to trust and love you.I don''t know why he''s afraid of your bird. Even a small bird fluttering around and making a noise in its cage might make the cat feel ill at ease. Some birds, like blue jays and mockingbirds, will dive-bomb cats outdoors because they see all cats as dangerous; maybe Roscoe wa