China Using Troop of Trained Monkeys To Guard Air Base 119
samzenpus (5) writes "No, they don't have guns and they don't ride on top of drones. Instead the small troop of macaques have been trained to guard air bases from birds who often get caught in aircraft engines. Government sources say the monkeys have proven more effective than netting, scarecrows, firecrackers and soldiers with live ammunition in dealing with birds. From the article: 'The macaques are trained to respond to precise whistle commands from their handlers, according to the Chinese military, leaping into action, clambering up trees to destroy nests and scare away birds, according to an account on China's Air Force News Web site on Sunday. The particular air force base employing the monkeys was left unidentified, described simply as being in the Beijing military zone. Base commanders in the account said the monkeys have destroyed more than 180 nests, at a pace of six to eight nests per monkey per day.'"
please, don't call them monkeys (Score:5, Funny)
they are 'evolutionarily challenged', that's all.
but but... (Score:5, Funny)
Does this mean the Typing Shakespeare project is on hold?
Most Disappointing Sentence in /. History (Score:5, Funny)
"they don't have guns and they don't ride on top of drones"
Re:180 nests gone, at 6 nests/monkey/day? really? (Score:5, Funny)
You haven't read The Mythical Monkey Month have you?
The same troupe laid off from MS Windows 8? (Score:4, Funny)
I'm curious if this is the same troupe of monkeys that were recently laid off from Microsoft, after they completed Windows 8.
can't put my finger on it (Score:3, Funny)
That half-buried Statue of Liberty in the corner back-lot is a bit unsettling for some reason.
Re:Someone has to be first to say... (Score:4, Funny)
personally, I'm tired of Congress.
Re:Birdpocalypse (Score:5, Funny)
"No soup for you!"
Re:please, don't call them monkeys (Score:2, Funny)
In the USA we make 'em president. Two in a row and counting.
Re:The same troupe laid off from MS Windows 8? (Score:5, Funny)
I'm curious if this is the same troupe of monkeys that were recently laid off from Microsoft, after they completed Windows 8.
Nah — these are trained monkeys.
Re:180 nests gone, at 6 nests/monkey/day? really? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:180 nests gone, at 6 nests/monkey/day? really? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:180 nests gone, at 6 nests/monkey/day? really? (Score:5, Funny)
You forgot that from the total number of monkeys you must subtract those monkeys involved in:
HR
Project Management
Engineering
Catering
Procurement
Once we do this it's clear that the actual number of Monkey's involved far exceeds those quoted. The Chinese are clearly fudging the numbers to make the project appear to be viable.