Staff at Basel zoo are carrying out a paternity test after the birth of an orangutan with any one of three potential fathers.
Be a step up from Jeremy Vine’s normal guests.
This is very good though:
Sumatran orangutans are one of the most endangered animal species in the world, comprising only nine existing populations left in the wild, with just three populations numbering 1,000 or more.
Known as “gardeners of the forest”, they have a major role in rain forest seed dispersal and in maintaining the health of the forest ecosystem, a function that is vital for a range of other animals, including tigers, Asian elephants and Sumatran rhinos.
Despite the development of protected areas, more than 50 per cent of orangutans are found in forests under management by timber, palm oil and mining companies.
So, err, they’re perfectly happy in managed as opposed to unmanaged forest then?
Well, not necessarily Tim. It might have been that a few years ago 90% were in areas managed by man but that these numbers have dwindled for….er….one reason or another.
I don’t know for sure.
I would love to research this but Dan Norton is about to take the field in the Singapore 7s, for England against France. A remarkable man, I’m sure you’d agree. Still young, you know.
I think you mean Kyle, not Vine.
“Be a step up from Jeremy Vine’s normal guests.”
Probably smarter and smell better. Not that you can tell. on the radio… 😉
Andrew C
The land not under management must dwarf the land that is under management. So the 50/50 split in the orangutan population suggests Tim’s point has real merit.
This would seem to bring us back to the question of ranching rhino and elephant and the effect it would have on their populations.
I also wonder if you can farm spuds in radio studios.
Stop her banana ration if she won’t tell you who the father is. And then take half his banana ration and give it to her. Oh, and half the ration of the other two bastards as well, just to be sure.
Given that the Basel zoo is half a mile down the hill from the BIS, perhaps they could find out all they need with some “stress tests”.
Ook.
I assume the staff at Basel zoo will be relieved when they find out that it’s not them.