Dog and Orangutan, BFFs for evah
June 3, 2010 10:08 AM   Subscribe

Suryia the Orangutan has a human-like relationship with Roscoe, a hound dog. (site takes about 30 seconds to load) This is the most beautiful and sweet thing I have ever seen in my cynical life. (SLNATGEOTVL?) via

Also, look for the amazing pratfall from Suriya around the 1:00 mark....
posted by lattiboy (30 comments total) 16 users marked this as a favorite
 
These people have my dream life--one of them, anyway.
posted by tula at 10:15 AM on June 3, 2010


"BFFs forever" is a good sentiment, but it feels a bit unwieldy to me. Could we maybe abbreviate it BFFFs? BFFFs forever!
posted by grobstein at 10:20 AM on June 3, 2010


Somebody put these two characters on a live webcam feed, STAT!
posted by Atom Eyes at 10:24 AM on June 3, 2010


grobstein: Not until people stop forgetting their PIN numbers at the ATM machine.

Also: awwwwww.
posted by zombieflanders at 10:24 AM on June 3, 2010


Do humans have human-like relationships with dogs? Or are they more dog-like?
posted by DU at 10:38 AM on June 3, 2010


Made my week. Thanks, mate.
posted by Lutoslawski at 10:40 AM on June 3, 2010


Youtube link to the same video (the original link wouldn't finish loading for me).

This is pretty sweet. I really like how the orangutan feeds the dog.
posted by doctor_negative at 11:20 AM on June 3, 2010


Loving the bit at 3:27 where Suryia splashes Roscoe in the face, and Roscoe gives him such a look.
posted by sleepcrime at 11:24 AM on June 3, 2010


I'm just going to make a snap layman's statement here, but this is not only wonderful to watch but makes a lot of sense. Dogs have evolved and been bred to be companions to humans. It's in their nature, part of their dog-ness. Suriya is human enough that the dog responds. The really interesting thing is what motivates Suriya. Maybe our instinct to domesticate dogs is part of our human-(or advanced primate)-ness.

Anyone know how chimps and dogs get along?
posted by oneironaut at 11:26 AM on June 3, 2010


Pre-emptively: I can anticipate that some will see this and say that we're "imposing our sentiments" on animals if we see affection in the relationship between a dog and an orangutan. However, I think it's perfectly rational to have this perception; aside from the slightly unfortunate phrase "human-like," of course it's possible for animals to feel affection that is similar to the affection we feel for other creatures. It's an impulse that serves them well, binding them to their families and species, and, as we see here, to other animals with whom they have relationships of mutual benefit. I think it's possible to take the fear of anthropomorphism too far.

Anyway, this was nice to watch. Thanks.
posted by koeselitz at 11:31 AM on June 3, 2010


Did I mention this isn't a plate of beans having a "human-like" relationship with a dog? I'm posting that tomorrow....

Jesus, could we all just enjoy the cuteness and not worry about it being 'human centric" ffs....
posted by lattiboy at 11:37 AM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]


How cute is that? So nice to know that in nature, if we're not tasty, that we can all get along.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:51 AM on June 3, 2010


Suryia's tumbling cracked me up. Both creatures seem very happy and thriving. Thanks for the link!
posted by The ____ of Justice at 12:10 PM on June 3, 2010


So uh, male orangutans are usually pretty solitary and incredibly strong. I'm not 100% sure this will end well.
posted by empath at 12:11 PM on June 3, 2010


I would like to see the dog get his foot caught in a fence and then be freed and then be found sitting in the orangutan's car.
posted by storybored at 12:19 PM on June 3, 2010 [4 favorites]


Reminds me of gorilla Koko and her kittens.
posted by joost de vries at 12:27 PM on June 3, 2010


So uh, male orangutans are usually pretty solitary and incredibly strong. I'm not 100% sure this will end well.

Did they really name a male orangutan "Suriya"? That scares me, too.
posted by grobstein at 12:29 PM on June 3, 2010


Hrm, nah, my bad. In my limited experience I have only known female Suriyas, but this seems to be the exception rather than the rule.
posted by grobstein at 12:30 PM on June 3, 2010


I watched all the other videos in that category. Most of them don't have the same happy ending as the orangutan and the dog, but Christian the Lion always makes me so happy I cry.
posted by lilac girl at 1:12 PM on June 3, 2010


Roscoe seems to be the happiest when interacting with the human handler. In the other clips he just looks patient and a little worried, especially when Suriya pries his mouth open....perhaps they should give Roscoe the leash.
posted by haikuku at 1:12 PM on June 3, 2010 [2 favorites]


Roscoe seems to be the happiest when interacting with the human handler. In the other clips he just looks patient and a little worried, especially when Suriya pries his mouth open....perhaps they should give Roscoe the leash.

I'll have to agree with that. It appears that Suriya likes Roscoe because he's entertaining. Roscoe likes the food and attention.
posted by Malice at 1:34 PM on June 3, 2010


Roscoe, a hound dog
I am willing to bet that Roscoe is in the top five most popular names for hound dogs.
posted by cilantro at 1:37 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]


Top 5 most popular names for hound dogs:

1: Roscoe
2: Toby
3: Buddy
4: Boy
5: Tucker
posted by empath at 2:15 PM on June 3, 2010 [2 favorites]


This video is from the Orangutan Information Centre in Sumatra Indonesia. The Sumatran Orangutan is on the Wildlife Conservation Society's critical endangered species. According to the OIC site there are around 7,300 left in the wild; a population that has decreased 80% over the last 75 years.
posted by dog food sugar at 2:50 PM on June 3, 2010


That was cute, but I felt a little sorry for the put-upon Roscoe at some points.

SURIYA: Here dog have some of this food I'm eating.
ROSCOE: No thank you ape.
SURIYA: No dog look here have some of this food I'm eating.
ROSCOE: [Turns head and closes mouth].
SURIYA: HERE DOG HAVE SOME OF THIS FOOD I'M EATING I WILL OPEN YOUR JAWS AND PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH AND MAKE YOUR JAWS GO CHEW CHEW CHEW.
posted by mudpuppie at 4:37 PM on June 3, 2010 [5 favorites]


mudpuppie, as the owner of a new pup who occasionally won't eat what's good for him (meds), I assure: dogs are OK with that behavior.
posted by IAmBroom at 5:41 AM on June 4, 2010 [1 favorite]


This is so awesome, it reminds me of the incredible rapport that human toddlers have with dogs.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 10:23 AM on June 4, 2010


All of those videos are incredibly sweet and adorable. But the one about the lioness and the oryx is painfully sad.
posted by Ms. Saint at 1:20 PM on June 4, 2010




At least at the washington zoo, i got the distinct impression that they enjoyed pooping on the visiters underneath the high wires.
posted by empath at 2:55 PM on June 7, 2010


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