A group of 15 monkeys at Kyoto University’s primate research institute in Aichi prefecture escaped from their forest home, which is encased by a five-metre electric fence. The monkeys made their break for freedom by bending and releasing tree branches to fling themselves one by one slingshot-fashion over the high-voltage fence.
… Despite the intelligence demonstrated by their great escape, the primates then appeared unsure what to do with their freedom: They remained by the gates of the centre and were lured back by scientists with peanuts.
July 8th, 2010 at 9:44AM
They understand the advantages of tenure.
July 8th, 2010 at 10:07AM
Even though they get paid peanuts.
July 8th, 2010 at 10:20AM
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July 8th, 2010 at 11:18AM
Thanks for posting this. The phrase “unsure what to do with their freedom” immediately reminded me of Patricia Limerick’s story about newly-unshackled birds refusing to fly: getting tenure had beaten the courage out of the faculty.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:38PM
And, I predict, when they’re back inside, they’ll try to escape again. The grass is always greener and the bananas are always riper on the other side of the fence.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:57PM
Mr UD has a theory that they weren’t trying to escape. “It’s just fun to catapult yourself.”