Something to start the weekend with a laugh:
In the Caribbean, Vervet Monkeys have developed a taste for alcohol and can regularly be spotted stealing cocktails from humans on the beach. Brilliant wildlife video from BBC animal show ‘Weird Nature’.
Lest you think that this video has no scientific or otherwise redeeming value, liquor-loving monkeys have provided scientists with insight into human drinking behaviours and responses to alcohol.
“Monkeys show highly individual responses in their choice to drink alcohol excessively,” agreed Kathleen Grant, a senior scientist at the Oregon National Primate Research Center. “There are important parallels to human alcoholism.”
Since the monkeys appeared to go through withdrawal, Chen and his team hope to investigate drugs that may help prevent related symptoms, which often result in relapse in human alcoholics.
