Reg & Bonobo

I've been getting up to some monkey business again - this time in aid of a couple of birthdays.

Firstly, I'd like to introduce Reg McMonkey:-

He is (very) loosely based on a character by the name of Reg McDuff (a forum member at Digital Spy) who looks like this:-

Mr McDuff has a lengthy and ferociously unreciprocated adoration for another fm (shall I name her? Hmmmm, ... not sure. If I do, she'll thump me next time I see her (in the summer), if I don't then you'll all be left wondering). Perhaps I should just post a link to a thread at Digital Spy, and those of you who want to find out more can do so, whilst those who can't be @r$ed needn't bother. :-p Anyway, that's why Reg McMonkey has a little red heart on his chest.

I tried my McMonkey with hair:-

but decided he looked like a big girl's blouse, so took it all off again. His new owner seemed very pleased with him, and posted pictures on a couple of threads - thanks for the publicity hun ;-) x

Next, I am proud to present Bonobo:-

He was commissioned by a friend for her husband, whom she sometimes calls 'Bonobo'. She says this is because he looks a bit like a monkey (I'm saying nothing :-O ) and because of his peace-loving nature.

(The recipient is apparently thrilled with Bonobo, and I have already been sent a photo of this little sock monkey on a day out with his new owner!)

Do you, dear reader, know of the Bonobo Monkey? Here comes the science bit ... also sometimes referred to as the 'Pygmy Chimpanzee', they were originally 'discovered' by a German (by the name of Ernst Shwartz) in 1928. These Chimpanzees share 98% of our genetic make up, and have 'highly individuated' features, meaning they sometimes look quite different from one another (which isn't the case with 'common' chimps). Their biggest difference from 'common chimps' however, is that whilst those common monkeys (specifically the males) are quite hostile and think nothing of forming gangs to attack and kill other male chimps, Bonobos don't.

As long as Bonobos aren't separated from their mothers (they live in a totally matriarchal society, and are something of 'mummy's boys') they won't hurt any other chimp. Sex is extremely important to Bonobos who use it as a greeting, for conflict resolution, in peacemaking after conflict, and as a barter for food. This from Wiki:

Bonobos are the only non-human apes to have been observed engaging in all of the following sexual activities: face-to-face genital sex (most frequently female-female, then male-female and male-male), tongue kissing, and oral sex.

Apparently they have a pretty much free-for-all society when it comes to getting jiggy with it, although mothers and sons never do the deed with one another. I read that a special ritual called "rump rubbing" occurs to express reconciliation between two males after a conflict. They stand back-to-back and rub their scrotal sacs together. Now wouldn't that make the world a happier place, if humankind were to adopt the same practice? Could you imagine Saddam Hussein (prior to his capture and death) and George Bush indulging in it? What an interesting picture that conjures.

So there you are ... they'd rather have a bit of rumpy-pumpy than a fight, and I must admit I think I would too - although not with a chimpanzee, obviously. Given that they really can leap from tree to tree, they are possibly the most literal 'swingers' on the planet. (Apologies for the shocking pun).

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