9.8M views · May 18, 2009 · 2:41 · 0 HN recommenders · 3 mentions · discussed 2020–2026
Short BBC Earth clip from Life of Mammals in which David Attenborough shows orangutans imitating human behaviors like washing clothes with soap and using tools.
Why Hacker News points people here: Linked as a quick demonstration of orangutans copying human tool use and chores.
“Here is David Attenborough showing Orangutans washing clothes/using soap/tools/etc.”HN comment, 2024
“Wild orangutans in Borneo[1] have been known to observe humans and copy behaviours such as rowing canoes”
Wild orangutans copying human behaviors
Orangutans are crazy smart. Wild orangutans in Borneo[1] have been known to observe humans and copy behaviours such as rowing canoes, using tools and even helping humans with chores such as laundry. [1] this video
“Here is David Attenborough showing Orangutans washing clothes/using soap/tools/etc.”
Attenborough shows orangutans mimicking human washing and tool use
> Is he just repeating what he's seen humans do This is most probably the main reason. However there is some debate on whether these learned behaviours can be passed across generations. Here is David Attenborough showing Orangutans washing clothes/using soap/tools/etc. mimicking what they have seen Humans in their environment do - this video
“I use computers like that orangutan hammering nails in the video”
I've always told myself I should learn to do these sed/regex find and replace techniques, but my origins are not sophisticated and I use computers like that orangutan hammering nails in the video with David Attenborough this video It's entirely possible that you don't need multiple cursors
