Infectious ants become antisocial

Date:

April 14, 2015

Source:

Institute of Science and Technology Austria

Summary:

Combining experiments and epidemiological modeling, scientists explore how cleaning behavior affects disease spread in societies.

Looking after yourself, and trying not to infect others, is a good strategy to prevent disease from spreading -- not only if you are a considerate co-worker, but also if you are an ant, meerkat or other social animal, as revealed by an epidemiological model developed by the groups of Professor Fabian Theis from the Helmholtz Center Munich and Professor Sylvia Cremer from the Institute of Science and Technology (IST) Austria. In a Theme Issue of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B on "The Society-Health-Fitness Nexus" published on 13 April 2015, they combine observations of hygienic interaction networks within ant colonies with epidemiological modeling to conclude that this strategy is best to prevent disease spread in social animal groups.

Continued ...

Anti-social Dallas Zoo gorilla being shown door

DALLAS (AP) — There will be no rose ceremony for a 430-pound bachelor gorilla that failed to form any meaningful relationships with fellow apes during an 18-year stay at the Dallas Zoo.

Patrick, the 23-year-old Western lowland gorilla known for being gregarious with zoo staff and the public, while being ambivalent toward his female counterparts, has been handed his walking papers. The silverback will be transferred to the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, S.C. where he'll be allowed more solitude, according to a statement issued Monday by the Dallas Zoo.

"It's become clear that he prefers to live a solitary life," said Dr. Lynn Kramer, head veterinarian at the Dallas Zoo. "This move will allow Patrick to continue to thrive while creating an opportunity for our four remaining males to form a cohesive bachelor group."

Patrick was born at the Bronx Zoo in New York City in April 1990, but maternal neglect forced him to be moved to the Toronto Zoo where he was hand-raised with another male his own age. Both gorillas arrived in Dallas at age 5 and were integrated into a small troop of one silverback and two females, before being removed to form a bachelor group together.

Despite his affability with humans and his popularity in zoo presentations about gorillas, zoo officials said Patrick's reaction toward female apes has ranged from indifference to aggression.

No move date was announced for Patrick, a gorilla Kramer described as extremely intelligent and adept at using tools. A two-day bon-voyage celebration at the Dallas Zoo will be held Saturday and Sunday.

Patrick's departure will leave the Dallas Zoo with six gorillas.

http://news.yahoo.com/anti-social-dallas-zoo-gorilla-being-shown-door-222925310.html

'Taxi for Govan Road': Neighbours complain over anti-social cab firm parrot

A parrot which used to live in a taxi firm office has left neighbours spitting feathers by squawking out cab booking details.

Residents in a street in the Govan area of Glasgow called police to complain about anti-social behaviour from the bird.

Officers visited the owner in his Uist Street home on Tuesday to discuss the problem and found the parrot on its perch chirping "Taxi for Govan Road".

A local officer tweeting for Strathclyde Police's Govan Twitter account wrote: "Noise complaint report, culprit turned out to be a parrot that used to live in a taxi office, shouting things like 'Taxi for Govan road!'.

"I'm glad to say it's no wind up, you see all sorts in this line of work. My favourite call this week though."

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police added: "Police were responding to complaints about a noise within a property in the Uist Street area of Govan. Police carried carried out enquiries and it quickly became apparent that the source of the noise was a parrot.

"Officers have concluded their enquiries. They spoke to the householder - but not the parrot - and no further action is being taken."

http://local.stv.tv/glasgow/110359-taxi-for-govan-road-cab-firm-parrot-drives-neighbours-to-distraction/