You’ve seen Planet of the Apes and 2001:
Before we were men, we were monkeys. And someday, we may be be monkeys again. Where a series of videos that depict a chimp getting acquainted with a virtual reality headset fits into this equation, we’re not entirely sure. But it seems important.
Posted to Instagram by Bhagavan “Doc” Antle of the Myrtle Beach Safari, the videos have generated some backlash from animal rights advocates who feel that subjecting a chimp to VR is cruel. MBS, though, insists It’s an “enriching and enlightening experience” that he finds “fascinating and joyful.”
But then enrichment leads to sentience. And sentience leads to awareness of imprisonment. And that awareness leads to resentment. And then there’s a war. And then we’re the prisoners.
… Or maybe these are just some hilarious videos of a zoo animal being a zoo animal.
You decide:
This article was featured in the InsideHook newsletter. Sign up now.
