Plight of 'hippie chimp'

Plight of 'hippie chimp'
MBIHE-MOKELE, Congo -- Scientists are struggling to save the fast-disappearing bonobo, the gentle "hippie chimp" known for resolving squabbles through sex rather than violence. Unfortunately, bonobos are prized by Congolese for their tasty meat, and many villagers who are illegally hunting the wiry, wizen-faced apes don't realize how close their prey is to extinction. "Bonobos are an icon for peace and love, the world's 'hippie chimps,'" said Sally Coxe of the Washington-based Bonobo Conservation Initiative. "To let them die off would be a catastrophe." The animals are known for greeting rival groups with genital handshakes and sensual body rubs. Bonobo spats are swiftly settled -- often with a French kiss and a quick round of sex. Despite all the sex, however, female bonobos give birth to a single infant only once every five years, making the species especially vulnerable. The bonobo, or pan paniscus, is native only to the vast rain forest in this huge central African nation, living high off the ground in treetop nests. As few as 5,000 may now remain in Congo, down from an estimated 100,000 in 1984, said Ino Guabini, a primatologist with the World Wildlife Fund.
Dire need for Kenyans
NAIROBI, Kenya -- The number of Kenyans who will depend on food aid this year may rise well past the current 3.5 million because of the country's prolonged drought, the head of the U.N. food agency said Sunday. World Food Program Executive Director James Morris said the effects from the drought are not subsiding and it appeared unlikely Kenya would have the rain it needs for a good harvest. The Kenyan government, the WFP, the U.N. and other aid agencies carried out a study in January that found Kenya's number of food aid-dependent people had risen to 3.5 million, from 2.5 million in December, out of a total population of about 33.8 million. Kenya needs 437,000 tons of food aid until February 2007, the study found.
Cartoon protests mount
KARACHI, Pakistan -- Tens of thousands of people massed in Pakistan and Turkey on Sunday to protest cartoons of Islam's prophet Mohammed, that have fired anger throughout the Muslim world. About 50,000 people, many chanting "Hang those who insulted the prophet," rallied Sunday in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi. The protesters burned the Danish flag, hit an effigy of President Bush with a stick and chanted "Death to America" and "Death to Musharraf."
Homeless man set on fire
BOSTON -- A homeless man sleeping in a park was attacked early Sunday by two men who kicked him in the stomach and then set him on fire, police said. No arrests were made and police gave no indication of what might have motivated the attack. The 30-year-old homeless man, whose name was not released, told police he was awakened by the men kicking him in Langone Park in the city's North End. He drifted back to sleep after the assault, but the men returned, drenched him with a flammable liquid and set his legs on fire, police said. A 911 caller reported flames in the park, and firefighters found the man wrapped in a blanket after he had ripped off some of his burning clothes. The victim was treated at Massachusetts General Hospital for burns to his legs.
Study looks at risks ofWest Nile and pregnancy
CHICAGO -- Pregnant women who get West Nile virus likely will have normal babies, although a small risk of birth defects can't be completely ruled out, according to the first published report from a multistate registry. Researchers at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called their report "somewhat reassuring" but said pregnant women still should be especially careful to follow precautions, including staying indoors when mosquito activity is high and wearing repellent during mosquito season. Of 72 infants in 16 states whose mothers had West Nile during pregnancy, only three had problems that might have been linked with exposure to the virus before birth, according to 2003-04 data from the registry. None of the infants studied "had conclusive laboratory evidence" of developing West Nile virus infection from their mothers, although scientists are uncertain how effective current tests are at detecting West Nile infection at birth, according to the report, being published today in the March edition of Pediatrics.
Associated Press