I missed the documentary on TV last night about Oliver the Humanzee. It had been rumored for years that Oliver was half human, but DNA tests ruled it out. What a pity! Here's a nice Wikipedia article about him.
Oliver's next owner was New York appellate lawyer Michael Miller, who promoted Oliver as a "missing link". Oliver appeared on Japanese TV with fraudulent promotions picturing him as a miniature and hairy human being. Though he was sent to Japan in a normal chimpanzee cage as cargo, Oliver was depicted as flying in the passenger cabin. Oliver's trip coincided with a concert promotion of the rock 'n roll group The Monkees and he was presented on Japanese television shows with Micky Dolenz spouting inaccurate scientific observations.
Miller claimed he was promised genuine scientific examination of Oliver including genetic testing by the Japanese promoters. Some Japanese results, later proved false, held that Oliver had 47 chromosomes. Some anthropologists observing Oliver's head, nose, ears, and preference for bipedal walking asserted the possibility that the chimp was a hybrid.
Reader comment:
Max says:
I am an avid Boing Boing reader and when I came across the posting about Oliver the Humanzee I figured I'd recommend a documentary that you will almost certainly find pertinent and interesting. The film is called Kanzi, Ape of Genius. I think it was made by the University of Georgia, but I can't seem to get my hands on it, so I'm afraid I can't verify that bit.
Kanzi is a Bonobo chimp that lives in captivity. He has been taught to communicate through sign language, images and gestures and he can cook – with a bit of help. The emotions that Kanzi exhibits are incredible – he's so human like it's embarrassing…for us I think. The film shows Kanzi's interactions with his human trainer, his fellow chimps and a dog – for whom he has nothing but jealousy, and contempt, which are but two of many complex traits he displays.
Good luck finding the film. If you do, I'd love to know where.
